Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39375724›Full record

ArticleBMC medical education2024

Exploring medical students' perceptions of telehealth in Pakistan: a cross-sectional study.

Rafay Shahab Ansari, Hussein Alfakeer, Fariha Arif, Muhammad Arsalan Bashir, Maha Zehra, Sameer Abdul Rauf, Hussain Haider Shah, Sardar Noman Qayyum, Annoushay Tehseen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical education, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Rafay Shahab AnsariZiauddin University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Hussein AlfakeerFaculty of International Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey.
Fariha ArifDow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Muhammad Arsalan BashirIndus Hospital & Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan.
Maha ZehraDow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Sameer Abdul RaufLiaquat National Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan. sameerrauf80@gmail.com.
Hussain Haider ShahDow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Sardar Noman QayyumBacha Khan Medical College Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan.
Annoushay TehseenRawal Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThis study aimed to investigate medical students' perceptions of telehealth in Pakistan and assess the relationship between students' proficiency in computers and technology, gender, and age.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 330 medical students from various universities in Karachi, Pakistan. Data on demographic characteristics, computer proficiency, and perceptions of telehealth were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were utilized for data analysis.

resultsThe study included 330 participants, predominantly from public universities (83.3%), with a mean age of 21.40 ± 4.24 years. Most participants were pursuing MBBS (67%). In terms of computer proficiency, 41.8% fell into the middle category. Gender correlated significantly with proficiency (p < 0.05), with females more often in the middle category and males in the not-that-amateur category. Age demonstrated a small positive correlation with proficiency (p < 0.05). A majority (77.6%) expressed a general interest in technology. Regarding healthcare apps, 51.8% had 1-3 apps, and 33.6% had none. Most participants believed telehealth would enhance healthcare (72.1%) and make it cheaper (63.3%). Additionally, 56.7% agreed that Pakistan should invest in telehealth, while only 2.7% disagreed.

conclusionThe study revealed that medical students in Pakistan exhibit an interest in technology and perceive telehealth as beneficial. These findings suggest that telehealth holds the potential to enhance healthcare opportunities in Pakistan. Therefore, investing in and expanding telehealth services may represent a viable solution for improving access to healthcare in the country.

Indexed as

Students, MedicalTelemedicineAdultAttitude of Health PersonnelCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMalePakistanSex FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultComputer proficiencyMedical studentsTelehealth

Identifiers

PMID39375724
PMCPMC11460005

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.