Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39695644›Full record

ArticleBMC medical informatics and decision making2024

The perception of facilitators and barriers to the use of e-health solutions in Poland: a qualitative study.

Paulina Smoła, Iwona Młoźniak, Monika Wojcieszko, Urszula Zwierczyk, Mateusz Kobryn, Elżbieta Rzepecka, Mariusz Duplaga

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical informatics and decision making, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Factors Influencing Patient Satisfaction with Healthcare Services in Poland.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2025
    Review
  3. 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

7 authors.

Paulina SmołaDepartment of Health Promotion and e-Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Skawińska Str. 20, Krakow, 31-066, Poland.
Iwona MłoźniakDepartment of Health Promotion and e-Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Skawińska Str. 20, Krakow, 31-066, Poland.
Monika WojcieszkoDepartment of Health Promotion and e-Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Skawińska Str. 20, Krakow, 31-066, Poland.
Urszula ZwierczykDepartment of Health Promotion and e-Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Skawińska Str. 20, Krakow, 31-066, Poland.
Mateusz KobrynDepartment of Health Promotion and e-Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Skawińska Str. 20, Krakow, 31-066, Poland.
Elżbieta RzepeckaDepartment of Epidemiology and Population Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Skawińska Str. 20, Krakow, 31-066, Poland.
Mariusz DuplagaDepartment of Health Promotion and e-Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Skawińska Str. 20, Krakow, 31-066, Poland. mariusz.duplaga@uj.edu.pl.

Funding

Narodowe Centrum Nauki,Poland 2021/43/B/NZ7/02140
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundE-health entails the use of information and communication technologies in support of health and health-related activities. E-health increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. The pandemic showed that the e-health environment may be an important element of the response to epidemiological challenges. Polish citizens were provided with an array of e-health tools supporting the provision of health services.

methodsThe main aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, use, and opinions about e-health solutions in Polish society. Fifty participants representing the general population took part in in-depth interviews. The interviews were conducted face-to-face with participants in their homes or via a teleconferencing platform from November 2023 to January 2024. At first, the interviewees were recruited by convenience, and at a later stage, a snowballing approach was applied. A semi-structured guide covered the knowledge about and use of e-health solutions, attitudes toward new technologies, and opinions about artificial intelligence and robots in healthcare. The interviewers interviewed 50 participants, of whom 26 were females. The interview transcriptions were analyzed with MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2022 (Release 22.7.0). An approach based on thematic analysis was employed to evaluate the interviews' content.

resultsThematic analysis of the interviews resulted in the identification of three main themes: (1) knowledge about e-health, (2) barriers, and (3) facilitators of e-health use. Recognition of the term 'e-health' was limited among study participants, although they used e-health solutions frequently. The main barriers included limited digital skills and unfavorable attitudes to new technologies. Some of the participants complained about technical difficulties, e.g., poor Internet access. The main facilitators identified based on the interviews include saving time and reducing costs, as well as the ability to access medical records in one repository, as in the case of the Internet Patient Account. Some people believed e-health to be an element of progress. Overall, the study participants supported sharing their medical data for research.

conclusionsImplementing e-health solutions seems to be perceived as an inevitable consequence of technological progress. However, a lack of adequate technical skills remains one of the major obstacles to efficiently utilizing e-health's potential.

Indexed as

COVID-19Qualitative ResearchTelemedicineAdultAgedFemaleHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansMaleMiddle AgedPolandYoung AdultE-healthIn-depth interviewsMedical data sharingTelemedicineThematic analysis

Identifiers

PMID39695644
PMCPMC11653833

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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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.