The growing accessibility of personal technology, such as cell phones, provides patients with the potential to utilize real-time virtual communication with clinicians, thereby improving access to health services. Assessing the perceived value of telephone telemedicine may enhance follow-up visits for hypertensive patients with the same primary care clinicians. This cross-sectional study included data from 887 hypertensive patients who scheduled a follow-up care appointment through the Rangpur Hypertension and Research Centre but missed the appointment between January 1, 2023, and December 31,2023. After excluding deceased individuals and those not reached by phone, we analysed data from 678 participants. The mean age of irregularly followed-up hypertensive patients was 47.66 years (standard deviation = 11.2 years), and 373 (52.8%) of them were male. Most patients (325, 47.94%) conveyed contentment with the effectiveness of the treatment, expressing their intent to attend the next follow-up appointments. In contrast, 157 (23.1%) acknowledged missing follow-up appointments, attributing it to feeling well about their health and showed uncertainty regarding the need for the next appointment. Furthermore, 196 (28.9%) patients stated that they did not attend the follow-up appointment at the centre due to seeking treatment from alternative healthcare providers or dissatisfaction with the treatment received. After controlling for other variables, female participants exhibited a 58% lower likelihood of scheduling follow-up visits compared to male hypertensive patients (Relative Risk Ratio (RRR=0.42, 95%Confidence Interval= 0.21-0.83). Similarly, hypertensive patients aged 60 years and above had a 52% lower likelihood of scheduling follow-up visits compared to younger patients (RRR=0.48, 95%CI = 0.25-0.92). Our study highlights significant challenges in hypertension management, with approximately half of hypertensive patients missing follow-up visits. These challenges stem from systemic, socio-economic, and patient-specific factors. We observed disparities in follow-up visit scheduling, with females and older patients aged 60 years and above showing lower likelihoods compared to their counterparts. Conversely, individuals engaged in business or with monthly paid jobs were more likely to schedule visits, indicating socioeconomic influences. However, urban or semi-urban residents were less likely to schedule visits compared to rural counterparts, highlighting geographic disparities. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve follow-up rates, especially among females and older patients, and address access barriers in urban areas.

During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine services played a significant role in healthcare delivery around the globe. It also contributed to easing pressure on the hospitals overwhelmed by the public health crisis in a century. Like different parts of the world, Bangladesh experienced substantial growth in telemedicine initiatives both in the public and private sectors during that time. The government of Bangladesh launched Jatiya Shasthaya Batayan or the National Health Hotline (16263) to provide healthcare services to the people of the country. Scholars argue that such health helplines have the potential to reduce health disparity by providing medical advice, information, and support to individuals seeking healthcare in normal situations. Building and maintaining public trust in health helplines is crucial as it directly impacts the effectiveness and utilization of these services. Moreover, an understanding of the trust in health helplines would contribute to the quality of healthcare services in telemedicine settings, public access and use of the services, and reduce the healthcare disparity in the country. This research study aims to examine the factors that influence trust in emergency health helplines in the country and their willingness to use health helplines in the future in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional research used a quantitative approach in collecting and analyzing data. Using a stratified random sampling method, data were collected through a face-to-face questionnaire survey among individuals aged 18 years or more, from various socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels living in different parts of Bangladesh between February 1 and April 1, 2024. Statistical methods such as descriptive statistics, linear regression and factor analysis were used to generate insight from the data. The findings of the study indicate that public confidence levels in the information (40.4%) and quality of the services (38.1%) of the health helplines are at medium levels. However, they have a high level of willingness level to use the service in future (67.7%) and refer someone to use the services (71.3%). Multiple factors such as responsiveness and timeliness, accessibility and convenience, cultural sensitivity and respectfulness and transparency and accountability influence the trust in the health helplines. Overall, the participants have a moderate level of trust in the health helplines in Bangladesh, but they have high level of willingness to use the services in future and refer someone.

INTRODUCTION: During COVID-19 pandemic, Telehealth was crucial to the delivery of healthcare services. it is expected that even after the pandemic is almost over, providers will probably start using telehealth on a regular basis as we transition to the “new normal.” Therefore, it is crucial to identify and resolve any discrepancies in telehealth’s effectiveness and accessibility. OBJECTIVES: Examine disparities in telehealth access and explain how frequently OB-GYN patients used telehealth during the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic according to race/ethnicity and insurance status. METHOD: A cross-sectional design was used including a convenience sample of 9370 women who received telehealth or in-person care. RESULTS: 15,362 encounters were completed in total. 81.34% of appointments were held in person throughout the study’s time period, and 18.66% were managed by telehealth. The majority of the patients had private health insurance (n = 975, 52.4%) and were Caucasian (n = 1202, 63.4%). Compared to patients of other races, patients of Hispanic and Asian descent were less likely to attend their telehealth appointment (p< 0.001). Patients with private health insurance were more likely than those with public health insurance to show up for their telehealth appointments (p< 0.001).CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that underserved populations, including individuals of color, those with public insurance, and others, must have greater access to and utilization of telehealth services.

Introduction: Telehealth technology and its use are not new to the field of medicine in general and OB in particular. To reduce the potential risks, make telehealth more feasible, and reduce the costs associated with its rapid adoption, it is essential to establish high-quality, evidence-based procedures for OB services. Aims: This qualitative study explored patients’ experience of receiving obstetrics and gynecological treatment via telehealth. Methods: We adopted a qualitative design. We recruited 18 women receiving care at the obstetrics and maternal and fetal medicine clinics at UMass Memorial Medical Center, Massachusetts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and data was analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Results: The participants’ experience of using telehealth services emerged from the data in three themes: the experience of using modern telehealth platforms, telehealth and its perceived benefits, and telehealth and its perceived challenges. Conclusion: The overall positive experiences and consistent perceived benefits reported by most participants suggest that telehealth can be an important tool in the healthcare delivery for certain patients and situations in a post-pandemic world. This study highlighted several challenges that need to be addressed for telehealth to achieve maximum effectiveness and functionality in the future.

The pattern of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of students’ lives, including their physical, social, and mental well-being. This study aimed to examine the association between virtual learning and feelings of depression among a sample of university students in the Emirate of Sharjah, UAE. Using a descriptive, cross-sectional study design, quantitative data were collected from undergraduate students by means of online surveys. To assess the levels and prevalence od depression among university students, the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale was used. Our findings revealed that there were statistically significant associations between the individual characteristics and levels of depression in terms of academic level (p < .001), place of residence (p < .001), screen time during virtual learning (p = .019), and mode of course delivery in the spring semester of 2021–2022 (p = .006). Although virtual learning has become a necessary feature of all educational institutions, more attention needs to be paid to its psychological impact.

Cyberchondria is a distinct behavioral syndrome that is closely related to health anxiety/hypochondria and excessive online searching for health information and/or digital self-tracking. Despite the reported prevalence of self-medication, cyberchondria research is still in its infancy in Bangladesh. We investigated the relationship between Cyberchondria and self-medication among adults. This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 480 individuals who had internet access and who can read both Bangla and English. The Cyberchondria Severity Scale and the self-medication perception Questionnaire were applied to the participants. Univariate and hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Of the study group 283 (59%) were male, and 197 (41%), were female. Their ages ranged from 18 to 40 years, with an average of 25.1 (± 5.97) years. The positive perception of self-medication was prevalent in 279 (58.1%) adults. Cyberchondria and perception of self-medication were positively related and in the final model self-medication, age and residence were found to be the significant determinants of cyberchondria. Positive perception of self-medication practice may be a potential risk factor for Cyberchondria. People's health-related actions can be influenced by their cyberchondria behavior, so it's crucial that online health resources are safe. Cyberchondria is a mental health disorder, and this study's findings could inform future research into the causes of this condition.

During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare services in primary healthcare centers as well as hospitals were disrupted. To cope with this condition and mitigate the effects of this pressure on the system on patients with critical chronic illnesses, the country adopted the use of telemedicine to deliver much-needed services to this in-need population of patients. Telehealth has the potential to significantly increase patient access to medical treatment in remote places and other settings with a shortage of clinicians. This report proposes the development of telehealth programs and policies in Jordan due to its potential to improve individual and community health. However, it is necessary to create and implement telehealth interventions that are tailored to the needs of individual patients and the community.

Introduction The development of internet technology and information and smartphone applications is progressing very rapidly. ON the other hand, accumulating evidence is indicating that excessive use of smartphone can cause mental and emotional health problems among adolescents. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between adolescent smartphone addiction and psychological and emotional health in Indonesia. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional correlational design. The study respondents were 350 adolescents aged 10-22 years and were selected through the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using the adapted and validated psychological wellbeing scale and the Smartphone addiction scale. Results: The study using Kendall's method indicated a significant correlation between the study variables (Sig. = 0.001). The correlation coefficient is -0.255, which denotes a negative, and weak to a moderate relationship. Discussion: Adolescents should exercise, attend school, and volunteer more. During unstable adolescent growth, parents must lead their children, and explain rules and conventions. Adolescents should be encouraged and directed to do more exercise, extra-school activities, and volunteer work among others. In this study it was apparent the issue of technology addiction and its possible negative effects on adolescents9emotional and mental well-being, therefore individual, group, and community interventions and assertive behavior techniques are needed to decrease adolescent smartphone addiction. Interventions such as group mentoring, counseling, and cognitive behavioral therapy could be useful in this area.