Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of telemedicine on improving healthcare access for adults with chronic illnesses.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Madina, Saudi Arabia, from June 2024 to August 2024. It included adults aged 18-75 years who were diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or asthma. The study investigated their use of telemedicine. Data were collected through an online questionnaire.
Results: A total of 387 participants were included in the study. Among them, 55% reported telemedicine use, primarily through the Sehhaty platform (62%). Telemedicine was adopted by females (60.5%) at a higher rate than by males (39.5%), and among unemployed individuals (40.3%). The majority of users were aged 45 years or older (62.8%), indicating higher acceptance among middle-aged and elderly individuals. Participants showed great acceptance toward telemedicine, with 58.4% agreed upon that it facilitates appointment scheduling, 57.6% stated that it reduces waiting time, and 56.6% cited cost savings. However, 32.6% expressed concerns regarding technical issues, and 27.9% believed that telemedicine lacked sufficient physician attention.
Conclusion: The study found that telemedicine demonstrated a positive perception, especially among female patients and older individuals with chronic diseases. However, there are areas of concern among participants regarding technological reliability issues, privacy, and the adequacy of virtual consultations.

Key words: Chronic illness; Remote healthcare; Telemedicine; healthcare access