Table 3.
Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for associations between region (urban or rural) and knowledge, interest, expectation, and use of digital applications in dermatology (survey date: 2021). The values in italics are significant.
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Urban (n=600), n (%)a | Rural (n=192), n (%)a | P valueb | aOR (95% CI) for urban/rural; reference: ruralc | |||||
| Interest, knowledge, and confidence in digital medicine: “fully agree” or “agree” | |||||||||
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Interest in digital medicine | 372 (62) | 91 (47.4) | <.001 | 1.70 (1.17-2.47) | ||||
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Good knowledge of digital medicine | 228 (38) | 50 (26) | .01 | 1.64 (1.06-2.49) | ||||
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Confidence in using digital applications | 279 (46.5) | 61 (31.8) | .002 | 1.73 (1.17-2.58) | ||||
| Use of digital application: “very frequent” or “frequent” | |||||||||
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Real-time video consultation | 55 (9.2) | 7 (3.6) | .05 | 2.68 (0.95-7.51) | ||||
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Asynchronous communication with patients (eg, email and SMS text message) | 295 (49.2) | 63 (32.8) | .01 | 1.79 (1.20-2.68) | ||||
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Real-time communication for professional exchange (eg, video conference) | 154 (25.7) | 30 (15.6) | .02 | 1.90 (1.13-3.17) | ||||
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Asynchronous communication for professional exchange (eg, email and SMS text message) | 297 (49.5) | 70 (36.5) | <.001 | 1.62 (1.10-2.39) | ||||
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Remote patient monitoring | 45 (7.5) | 12 (6.3) | .58 | 1.19 (0.56-2.52) | ||||
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Electronic reminder of appointments for patients | 185 (30.8) | 33 (17.2) | <.001 | 2.01 (1.24-3.27) | ||||
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Electronic doctor’s letter | 89 (14.8) | 20 (10.4) | .22 | 1.54 (0.83-2.86) | ||||
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Electronic or web-based data from patients (eg, apps, wearables, and body values) | 32 (5.3) | 8 (4.2) | .51 | 1.31 (0.49-3.56) | ||||
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Artificial intelligence applications for diagnostic purposes | 132 (22.0) | 38 (19.8) | .52 | 1.12 (0.70-1.82) | ||||
| Expectations of digital medicine | |||||||||
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Importance of digital transformation in Germany in the future: “great importance” | 400 (66.7) | 104 (54.2) | <.001 | 1.64 (1.08-2.48) | ||||
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Expectation of risks associated with digital medicine: “great risks” | 205 (34.2) | 101 (52.6) | <.001 | 0.51 (0.35-0.76) | ||||
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Know guideline “Practice of teledermatology:” “yes, read” | 84 (14.0) | 25 (13.0) | .79 | 1.23 (0.74-2.08) | ||||
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Procedures facilitate practical activity: “yes” and “partly” | 270 (45.0) | 72 (37.5) | .10 | 1.28 (0.86-1.93) | ||||
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Importance of digital health applications (DiGAd) in the future: “great importance” | 185 (39.8) | 48 (33.3) | .14 | 1.30 (0.87-1.95) | ||||
| Connection to the national telematics infrastructure: “yes” and “no, but requested” | |||||||||
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Telematic infrastructure | 473 (78.8) | 175 (91.1) | <.001 | 0.37 (0.21-0.68) | ||||
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Electronic health professional card (eHBAe) | 471 (78.5) | 163 (84.9) | .06 | 0.61 (0.35-1.31) | ||||
| SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and digitalization | |||||||||
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Increased the use of digital applications due to SARS-CoV-2: “yes” | 237 (39.5) | 59 (30.7) | .05 | 1.37 (0.91-2.06) | ||||
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Continue to use application in the future: “yes” and “partially” | 221 (93.2) | 57 (96.6) | .50 | 0.63 (0.14-2.95) | ||||
aUnadjusted or crude values.
bChi-square tests were performed.
cLogistic regressions were performed. Following items were included as independent variables: age (≥50 years or < 50 years) and sex (male or female).
dDiGAs: Digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen.
eeHBA: elektronischer Heilberufeausweis.