Patients Experience of Telemedicine in Saudi Arabia: A Review of User Perspective

Background: In today’s world, one of the requirements is the urgent need to provide fast, low-cost, affordable, and high-quality medical services. These demands have led to the invention of ways in which medical services can be provided to patients in their homes. Methods: This study aimed to analyze patients’ experience of the implementation of telemedicine in Saudi Arabia (Riyadh City). Samples from different categories of patients were randomly selected following opportunity sampling techniques. The study population included 332 participants (male and female). For data collection, we used a questionnaire consisting of 8 items. The questions were rated using a 5-point Likert scale (agree, strongly agree, average, disagree, and strongly disagree). Results: A total of 67 (19.5%) participants reported that they use telemedicine only for medical consultation, while 47 (13.7%) said that they use it for diagnosis and treatment as well. The participants revealed that telemedicine saves them time and money. However, they admitted that telemedicine negatively affected their relationship with the service providers. Finally, patients described communication challenges and a lack of confidence in accessing telemedicine. Conclusions: The study concluded that the main barriers to the use of telemedicine services are a lack of confidence in accessing telemedicine, difficulty communicating due to the use of different languages and dialects, and the fact that these services are not suitable for uneducated people.