Publication: Knowledge, attitude, and practice of telemedicine among attendees in outpatient clinics at Hospital Pakar USM Kelantan
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Date
2025-06
Authors
Zulkifli, Nurfarihah
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Abstract
Introduction: Telemedicine has become an increasingly important modality in delivering healthcare services, especially in the post COVID-19 era. Despite growing uptake, limited data exist on patient knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding telemedicine use in public tertiary hospitals in East Coast Malaysia.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of good knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) and to identify associated factors toward telemedicine among outpatient clinic attendees at Hospital Pakar USM Kelantan.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2024 and June 2025 involving 255 participants, systematically sampled from four outpatient clinics. A previously validated Bahasa Malaysia KAP instrument was used to assess telemedicine-related knowledge, attitude and practice. Data were analyzed descriptively and using multivariable logistic regression.
Results: A total of 255 participants from outpatient clinics at Hospital Pakar USM were included in the study. The prevalence of good knowledge, attitude, and practice toward telemedicine was 60.4%, 75.7%, and 52.2% respectively. Telemedicine practice was reported by only 52.2% of participants, despite generally high knowledge and positive attitudes. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that younger age (AOR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.96–0.98, p < 0.05), being married (AOR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.34–6.24, p < 0.05), and having a history of telemedicine use (AOR = 2.82, 95% CI: 1.27–6.98, p < 0.05) were significantly associated with good knowledge of telemedicine. Younger age (AOR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92–0.97, p < 0.05) and being married (AOR = 3.69,
95% CI: 1.51–9.34, p < 0.05) were significantly associated with good attitude. Meanwhile, younger age (AOR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95–0.99, p < 0.05) and a history of telemedicine use (AOR = 3.11, 95% CI: 1.42–7.43, p < 0.05) were significant predictors of good practice toward telemedicine.
Conclusion: Although knowledge and attitude toward telemedicine were relatively high, findings highlight a moderate uptake gap, particularly among older and higher-income individuals. Interventions targeting digital literacy and guided exposure to telemedicine may help improve utilization in these subgroups. These findings can inform targeted components of Malaysia’s digital health roadmap, including integration into tele-primary care expansion and public hospital teleconsultation protocols. Given the single-center design and exclusion of acutely ill patients, findings may not fully represent the broader outpatient population in Malaysia.
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Keywords
Telemedicine , knowledge