Telehealth Satisfaction in Patients Receiving Virtual Atrial Fibrillation Care: Quantitative Exploratory Study

Abstract

Background Telehealth can optimize access to specialty care for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Virtual AF care, however, may not fit with the complex needs of patients with AF. Objective This study aims to explore the correlation among attitudes toward health care technologies, self-efficacy, and telehealth satisfaction as part of the future planning of virtual AF clinic care. Methods Patients with AF older than 18 years from an urban-based, highly specialized AF clinic who had an upcoming telehealth visit were invited to participate in a web-based survey. The survey asked about demographic characteristics; use of technology; general, computer, and health care technology self-efficacy (HTSE) and health care technology attitudes, using a validated 30-item tool; and telehealth satisfaction questionnaire using a validated 14-item questionnaire. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, correlational analyses, and linear regression modeling. Results Participants (n=195 of 579 invited, for a 34% response rate) were primarily older, male, and White, had postsecondary schooling or more, and had high self-reported overall and mental health ratings. A variety of technologies were used in their daily lives and for health care, with the majority of technologies comprising desktop and laptop computers, smartphones, and tablets. Self-efficacy and telehealth satisfaction questionnaire scores were high overall, with male participants having higher general self-efficacy, computer self-efficacy, HTSE, and technology attitude scores. After controlling for age and sex, only HTSE was significantly related to individuals’ attitudes toward health care technology. Both general self-efficacy and attitude toward health care technology were positively related to telehealth satisfaction. Conclusions Consistent with a previous study, only HTSE significantly influenced attitudes toward health care technology. This finding confirms that, in this regard, self-efficacy is not a general perception but is domain specific. Considering participants’ predominant use of the telephone for virtual care, it follows that general self-efficacy and attitude toward health care technology were significant contributors to telehealth satisfaction. Given our patients’ frequent use of technology and high computer self-efficacy and HTSE scores, the use of video for telehealth appointments could be supported.