TY - JOUR
T1 - Learning from the COVID-19 pandemic
T2 - health care disturbances and telemedicine as an alternative rheumatology practice in Indonesia
AU - Parlindungan, Faisal
AU - Sumariyono, Sumariyono
AU - Hidayat, Rudy
AU - Wibowo, Suryo Anggoro Kusumo
AU - Ariane, Anna
AU - Damanik, Johanda
AU - Araminta, Abirianty Priandani
AU - Yunita, Khadijah Cahya
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of all staff in the Rheumatology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo from the National General Hospital, and autoimmune rheumatic disease communities from all across Indonesia.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects health care services. Our aim was to assess health care disruptions, treatment interruptions, and telemedicine reception regarding autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) in Indonesia. Method: A cross-sectional population online-based questionnaire was conducted in Indonesia from September to December 2021. Results: A total of 311 ARD patients were included, of whom 81 (26.0%) underwent consultations via telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. The respondents showed increased concern about their susceptibility to COVID-19 (score of 3.9/5). Approximately 81 (26.0%) avoided hospital visits, and 76 (24.4%) stopped taking the medication without medical advice. Respondents’ concerns correlated with their social distancing behaviors (p value 0.000, r 0.458). Respondent concerns, behaviors, and blocked access to the hospital during the pandemic were associated with avoiding hospital visits (p value 0.014; 0.001; 0.045; 0.008). Sex was associated with stopping medication (p value 0.005). In multivariate analysis, blocked access and sex remained significant. Approximately 81 (26%) respondents who used telemedicine services during the COVID-19 pandemic as an alternative medical consultation method showed high satisfaction (3.8/5). Conclusion: Health care disruptions and treatment interruptions were affected by patients’ internal and external factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telemedicine may be the best option to address barriers to health care access in Indonesia’s rheumatology practice during and after the pandemic situation.
AB - Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects health care services. Our aim was to assess health care disruptions, treatment interruptions, and telemedicine reception regarding autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) in Indonesia. Method: A cross-sectional population online-based questionnaire was conducted in Indonesia from September to December 2021. Results: A total of 311 ARD patients were included, of whom 81 (26.0%) underwent consultations via telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. The respondents showed increased concern about their susceptibility to COVID-19 (score of 3.9/5). Approximately 81 (26.0%) avoided hospital visits, and 76 (24.4%) stopped taking the medication without medical advice. Respondents’ concerns correlated with their social distancing behaviors (p value 0.000, r 0.458). Respondent concerns, behaviors, and blocked access to the hospital during the pandemic were associated with avoiding hospital visits (p value 0.014; 0.001; 0.045; 0.008). Sex was associated with stopping medication (p value 0.005). In multivariate analysis, blocked access and sex remained significant. Approximately 81 (26%) respondents who used telemedicine services during the COVID-19 pandemic as an alternative medical consultation method showed high satisfaction (3.8/5). Conclusion: Health care disruptions and treatment interruptions were affected by patients’ internal and external factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telemedicine may be the best option to address barriers to health care access in Indonesia’s rheumatology practice during and after the pandemic situation.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Health behavior
KW - Health services
KW - Rheumatology
KW - Telemedicine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85158162436&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12913-023-09389-5
DO - 10.1186/s12913-023-09389-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 37158873
AN - SCOPUS:85158162436
SN - 1472-6963
VL - 23
JO - BMC Health Services Research
JF - BMC Health Services Research
IS - 1
M1 - 451
ER -
