Telemedicine in Pediatric Clinics: Parental Satisfaction and Perception at King Khalid University Hospital During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background Telemedicine enables healthcare professionals to provide clinical services through digital applications and communication technologies remotely. Previous studies have reported a significant increase in telemedicine usage during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in Saudi Arabia. As the global adoption of telemedicine services continues to rise, patient satisfaction remains a key quality indicator. This study aimed to evaluate parental satisfaction with telemedicine services in pediatric clinics at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it sought to assess parents' perceptions of telemedicine in this setting. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study included 412 parents who used telemedicine services during the COVID-19 pandemic in pediatric clinics at KKUH in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A validated online questionnaire, adapted from a previous study, was used for data collection. The questionnaire comprised four main sections: informed consent, sociodemographic questions, satisfaction statements, and perception statements. Results The study included 412 participants, with a response rate of 56%. Among the satisfaction domains, the highest rated was safety (86%), followed by appropriateness (84%), access and timeliness (84%), effectiveness (82%), and efficiency (77%). Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between the level of satisfaction across these domains and parental perception (p < 0.05). Conclusions The study concluded that although parents were highly satisfied with the use of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, their overall perception of telemedicine was less favorable.