Access and Disparities in the Use of Telemedicine Among Patients with Chronic Conditions in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ziyad S Almalki,1 Mohammad T Imam,1 Nada F Abou Chahin,2 Naheda S ALSammak,2 Shahad M Entabli,2 Shatha K Alhammad,2 Ghuyudh F Alanazi,2 Rama A Kharsa,2 Layla A Alonazi,2 Rasha A Mandil,2 Ahmed A Albassam,1 Ahmed M Alshehri,1 Abdullah K Alahmari,1 Ghada M Alem,1 Abdullah A Alalwan,1 Ahmad Alamer1 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia; 2Collage of Pharmacy, Almaarefa University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Ziyad S Almalki, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966 11 588 7315, Email [email protected]: This study investigated the access to and disparities in telemedicine use among patients with chronic conditions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study of randomly selected primary healthcare centers was conducted to ensure that each of the 17 municipalities in Riyadh were represented. Three hundred and forty-two participants who completed the questionnaire were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. The relationship between demographic and socioeconomic factors and telemedicine utilization was evaluated using the chi-square test and multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression model.Results: Among the 342 participants, the study revealed that 25.73% of the patients utilized telemedicine. Older participants had lower odds of telemedicine use than did those aged ≤ 30 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.112, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.045– 0.279 for 50– 59 years; AOR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.076– 0.474 for 60– 69 years; AOR = 0.223, 95% CI = 0.092– 0.542 for ≥ 70 years]. Female sex (AOR = 2.519, 95% CI = 1.44– 4.408), having a higher education level (AOR = 3.434, 95% CI = 1.037– 7.041 for secondary education and AOR = 5.87, 95% CI = 2.761– 8.235 for higher education), and living in urban areas (AOR = 2.721, 95% CI = 1.184– 6.256) were associated with higher odds of telemedicine use. Among socioeconomic factors, employed participants had higher odds of telemedicine use (AOR = 4.336, 95% CI = 2.3– 8.174). Furthermore, compared to those with the highest socioeconomic status (SES) index, those with the lowest SES were less likely to use telemedicine than those with the highest SES index (AOR = 0.193, 95% CI = 0.055– 0.683 for the lower bottom (poorest).Conclusion: This study highlights a significant disparity in the utilization of telemedicine services across different populations, primarily due to demographic and socioeconomic factors.Keywords: healthcare system, socioeconomic, digital health, inequitie