Are future healthcare professionals ready to use telemedicine?
Iryna Khabiuk/Canva
Date of publication:
Telemedicine promises easier access to healthcare, but its future will also depend on the people who will use it. How prepared are future healthcare professionals to work with new technologies?
Telemedicine – the use of digital tools for health monitoring, remote consultations, and patient support – is becoming an increasingly important part of modern healthcare. It can help provide more accessible healthcare services, reduce the burden on healthcare systems, and improve patient monitoring. However, successful implementation requires more than just the development of new technologies. It also depends on whether healthcare professionals are prepared to integrate these technologies into their everyday work.
Researchers at the Centre for Social Informatics at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, investigated the factors influencing nursing students’ willingness to use telemedicine before they gain direct experience with it.
Assist. Prof. Dr Simona Hvalič Touzery, Jerneja Laznik, Research Associate Mojca Šetinc, and Assoc. Prof. Dr Vesna Dolničar found that future nurses’ attitudes towards telemedicine are primarily influenced by three factors:
- knowledge of telemedicine,
- perceived usefulness of telemedicine in nursing practice,
- discomfort or anxiety related to the use of technology.
The results show that students who are more familiar with telemedicine and understand its benefits are more willing to use it in their future work. On the other hand, uncertainty or fear of technology may reduce their willingness to adopt digital solutions.
The study highlights that introducing digital healthcare involves more than providing appropriate equipment and technical knowledge. Future healthcare professionals also need support in developing confidence, digital competences, and a positive attitude towards new technologies.
The findings are important for educational institutions, healthcare organisations, and policymakers, as they show that preparing for the future of healthcare must address both the technological and human aspects of digital transformation.
The research contributes to a better understanding of how to shape healthcare education in a time of rapid development of digital solutions and supports efforts to create higher-quality and more accessible healthcare.
The full study is available at the link.
