Factors leading to telemedicine access in a post-pandemic era in developing countries: The case of Peru

Abstract

Telemedicine has emerged as a promising solution to address healthcare accessibility challenges in Peru, particularly in the post-COVID-19 context. However, despite the rapid adoption of telemedicine during the pandemic, once in-person consultations became more accessible again, its usage significantly declined. This highlights the need to understand the factors influencing its adoption in order that its potential can be fully realized. This study examines the role of convenience, perceived savings, privacy risks, readiness, urgency, trust in doctors, IT skills, IT connection, and symptom detection skills in shaping individuals’ intention to use telemedicine. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze data from 195 participants, the study found that convenience, perceived savings, and IT skills positively influence telemedicine usage intention. Additionally, trust in the doctor enhances convenience and perceived savings, while readiness influences perceived benefits (convenience and perceived savings) and risks. This research contributes to the literature on telemedicine adoption by focusing on a post-pandemic context in developing countries, offering valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare providers to improve telemedicine as an alternative to access healthcare services in these countries.