Evaluation of the usability of patients attended in gastrointestinal telemedicine postpandemic at University clinic

Telemedicine has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gastroenterology at Clínica Universidad de los Andes has continued it post-pandemic. Usability is the measure by which users evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in telemedicine. The usability of this type of consultation in Chile is unknown. To evaluate the level of usability among patients attended through teleconsultations in Gastroenterology at Clínica Universidad de los Andes (March-August 2023). A cross-sectional descriptive study on the level of usability using the adapted and modified Telehealth Usability Questionnaire. It consists of 12 items (score range 12-84) and comprises 2 factors: effectiveness and ease of use. Sociodemographic characteristics were also evaluated. A total of 150 questionnaires were analyzed. A high level of usability was observed (median: 81; range 54-84), with high scores in effectiveness (median: 28; range 20-28) and ease of use (median: 53; range 30-56), without significant differences according to sex, age, educational level, geographic location, and health insurance. Of the respondents, 76.7% were aged 30 to 64 years. 36% resided in the metropolitan region, 61% were women, and 80% were from the private health system. 29% consulted for abdominal pain, 20% for inflammatory bowel disease, and 17% for abnormal liver function tests. For 53.3%, it was their first consultation, and 46.7% were in follow-up via this method. In this cohort, telemedicine is perceived as an effective and easy-to-use tool, with a high level of usability regardless of the patients' sociodemographic characteristics. Therefore, in gastroenterology, telemedicine appears to be a form of healthcare accepted by patients.