Patients Experience and Satisfaction towards Virtual Health Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Southern Region of Saudi Arabia

BackgroundHealthcare providers can use these virtual platforms for delivering medical advice and prescriptions of medications to patients. This study was aimed to explore the patients experiences and level of satisfaction regarding virtual health care received during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study also assessed the before and during lockdown sleep quality in these participants. Design and MethodsThe current study included 522 participants from Saudi Arabia. Virtual healthcare satisfaction questionnaire was implemented to record the data on patient experience toward the virtual health care during COVID-19 pandemic. ResultsPatients opinions regarding virtual health care received during the COVID-19 pandemic era are summarized using the "five-point Likert scale". The mean score of all the five statements is 4.15, reflecting 83% level of satisfaction of participants towards virtual health care. Among participants, mostly agreed that they were able to communicate adequately with doctors, the picture and sound quality of the virtual appointment were good, their privacy was respected during the consultation, they were comfortable during history taking and exams that were done, and the doctor explained solutions including prescribing medicine and/or providing advice. However, there was no significant association found between the type of specialty attended or patient demographic factors and level of satisfaction. Results of subjective sleep parameters assessed before and during lock down are depicted. Results of t-test showed that the mean scores of all the components namely sleep duration (P<0.001); sleep disturbances (P<0.001), sleep latency (P<0.001), daytime dysfunction (P<0.001), habitual sleep efficiency (P<0.001), and subjective sleep quality (P<0.001) significantly differed between two assessment levels. Mean scores of all the components shifted towards higher values, representing worsening of sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic lock down. ConclusionsFindings support and conclude that virtual health care system can be adopted in clinical settings.