Escape to the future – a qualitative study of physicians’ views on the work environment, education, and support in a digital context

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Research

Nasim Farrokhnia¹  Anna Kristensson Ekwall²  Maria Hägglund³  Nadia Davoody⁴ 

[1]Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden

[2]Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

[3]Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjölds väg 14B, 752 37, Uppsala, Sweden

[4]Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden

[5]Health Informatics Center, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management, and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

[6]Health Informatics Center, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management, and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

关键词: Video consultations;    Telemedicine;    Work environment;    eHealth;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12911-023-02337-7

 received in 2021-05-18, accepted in 2023-10-11,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe use of remote services such as video consultations (VCs) has increased significantly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Sweden, private healthcare providers offering VCs have grown substantially since 2016 and have been controversial. Few studies have focused on physicians’ experiences providing care in this context. Our aim was to study physicians’ experiences of VCs, focusing on the work environment, quality of care, and educational needs.MethodsTwenty-two semi-structured interviews were performed with physicians working with VCs in Sweden, and analyzed through inductive content analysis.ResultsWe identified five categories; flexibility, social work environment, impact on care and society, continuous learning and career development, and organizational support. Flexibility and accessibility were considered positive features of working digitally by giving physicians control over their time and workplace and increasing patients’ timely access to healthcare. Regarding collegial contact and social activities in a digital context, the majority of the participants did not experience any significant difference compared to the physical context. Access to technical support services, educational support, and collegial support in decision-making, guidance, and consultations were described as well-functioning. Satisfied patients positively impacted the work environment, and participants felt that VCs have a positive socio-economic effect. Continuity of care was considered supported, but patients did not always prioritize this. Privacy risks were considered a challenge, as were poor development of clinical skills due to the low variation of patient cases. Working for an online healthcare provider was contributing to career advancements for junior clinicians.ConclusionsPhysicians appreciate the flexibility of the digital context and seem satisfied with a work environment where they have a high level of control, but few consider this a full-time career option. The pandemic year 2020 has led to a significant increase in the implementation of VCs in traditional care systems. How this affects the work environment and continuous education needs and career development remains to be seen.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

【 图 表 】

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