Satisfacción de la consulta de otorrinolaringología por Telemedicina en pacientes del departamento de Antioquia, Colombia

Abstract

Introduction: Telemedicine is an effective tool to improve access to healthcare; however, its use in otolaryngology remains limited in Colombia. The Digital Hospital program of the University of Antioquia aims to implement telemedicine in this specialty to reduce costs and enhance access. Objectives: To evaluate patient and physician satisfaction with otolaryngology telemedicine consultations as a basis for its expansion. Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: Patients from Quibdó and Apartadó who received care at the Digital Hospital of the University of Antioquia between September 2020 and October 2021 were included. Two instruments were used: the TeleENT Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (TESQ) for patients and the Satisfaction Survey for Telemedicine Physician Users for otolaryngologists. Results: A total of 77 patients participated, with the ear being the most commonly consulted organ (42.9%). The most frequent diagnoses were hearing loss (11.8%), vertigo (10.5%), and rhinitis (8.9%). Telemedicine avoided in-person consultations in 35.1% of cases, with overall satisfaction being high, particularly regarding image and audio quality. However, 68.8% of patients expressed a preference for in-person consultations. Physicians assessed 103 teleconsultations, reporting satisfaction with system ease of use and audio quality but lower satisfaction when examining the oral cavity and the quality of anterior rhinoscopy images. Conclusions: Telemedicine in otolaryngology demonstrates high levels of satisfaction. However, improvements in physical examination capabilities and increased acceptance are needed for broader implementation.