Brazilian Medical Survey on Telemedicine since the onset of COVID-19

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to understand the difference in the use of Telemedicine by Brazilian physicians before and after the onset of COVID-19 pandemic and their intention to continue using it post the pandemic period. The secondary objective was to analyze the differences of opinion between physicians in the private and public sectors. METHODS: We conducted an online medical survey through the SurveyMonkey platform in a large hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, from May to July 2022. RESULTS: Three-hundred-and -two physicians responded to the survey. We found that there was a significant increase in the number of physicians who started using Telemedicine in both the public and private sectors (p<0.0001) since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic and that >50% of them intend to continue using Telemedicine in their daily practice. Most responders consider that Telemedicine is useful in screening, diagnosis and management of patients; that it facilitates the physician's daily practice; that it can maintain or even add financial gains through reducing office expenses; and that is another medium for dispensing medical care. They also believe that Telemedicine should be regulated by the Brazilian Federal Council of Medicine. There were no significant differences between the responses from private and public sector physicians. CONCLUSION: Telemedicine has played a major role in healthcare since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic and most of the physicians approve its use and intend to continue using Telemedicine in their daily practice.