Satisfaction with a telehealth service among older adults

The number of people over 60 years of age has increased substantially in recent decades. According to the World Health Organization, this age group comprised 1 billion people worldwide in 2019 and is expected to increase to 1.4 billion people by 2030 and 2.1 billion people by 2050.⁽⁾ Thus, population aging has challenged health authorities to develop strategies to optimize care for this population.

Telehealth (remote general health services through the use of information and telecommunication technologies) and Telemedicine (specific area of Telehealth that involves technology-mediated medical practice) services have emerged as options to facilitate remote care for older individuals.^(-) Telehealth gained prominence during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, resulting in its improvement and in increasing awareness of its importance in the general care of individuals.^(-) It enhances the availability and accessibility of diagnostic and treatment services for older individuals, as many have mobility difficulties or depend on companions to attend appointments. Furthermore, this service overcomes geographical barriers, reducing demand arising from a lack of health professionals in different regions and allowing care for patients who may be many kilometers away. Telehealth also allows for agility in the delivery of test results and scheduling appointments, saving time and money.^(-) Despite these benefits, difficulties in performing physical examinations and the lack of more diagnostic tools still persist in telehealth services. In addition, not all health professionals receive adequate training for this service and some patients, such as older adults, can have difficulty using technology, which may compromise adherence to this type of service.^(,,)

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Keywords: Telehealth patient monitoring; Telemedicine; Patient satisfaction; Aged; Surveys and questionnaires

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