Many uncomfortable about using telemedicine service
A survey by the Medical Council found there was “modest” interest in using telemedicine — the use of telecommunications and information technologies to provide clinical care at a distance.
Only 3% of people have gone online to receive a diagnosis; have a consultation; or been given a repeat or new prescription, while 16% have used phone services for clinical health care.
Four out of 10 (42%) said they would be concerned the telecommunication doctor would not know their medical history, or would not be properly qualified.
Of the patients who have not used telemedicine services, 70% said they were very or quite unlikely to do so over the next year.
The Medical Council believes “inertia” is the main barrier to using telemedicine — seven out of 10 people said they were happy with their GP. Only one in 10 (11%) said they were either very likely or quite likely to use a telemedicine service in the next year or so.
The survey of 1,000 adults found that doctors remain the most trusted profession — nine out of 10 (91%) trusted them to tell the truth.
After doctors, teachers were the most trusted professions, with 82% of people trusting them to tell the truth, followed by judges, at 73%.
Nine out of 10 (91%) were satisfied with the doctor they attend most often and a similar proportion (88%) never felt the need to make a complaint about a doctor.
The council, which is developing new guidelines on professional conduct and ethics, said it’s crucial that doctors maintain patient confidentiality while using social media.
Three out of four (76%) people said they would change their mind about a doctor’s professionalism if he or she posted personal information on social media.
The vast majority (96%) agreed that doctors should never share patient information on social media.
Doctors have told the Medical Council additional guidance is needed on the use of social media.
A doctor in the US recently found herself in the middle of a social media storm when she complained about a patient being continually late for her appointments on her Facebook page.
Vice president of the Medical Council and chair of its ethics and professionalism committee, Dr Audrey Dillon, said it was immensely important that the council was aware of the concerns of patients in relation to social media and confidentiality.
“But we also have to be cognisant of the fact that doctors can gain professionally as well as personally from using social media platforms,” said Dr Dillon.
She said the council’s new guide to conduct and ethics tried to strike a balance by encouraging appropriate social media use by doctors.
The public, and doctors, are invited to offer their views on the draft guidelines.
