Table 3.

The advantages and disadvantages of teleconsultations among Polish HCPs.

Variable	Categories	n	%
Advantages of teleconsultation	reducing one’s own risk of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus	518	29.4
	reducing the risk for patients of contracting SARS-CoV-2 virus	500	28.4
	quick contact with the patient	318	18.0
	possibility of providing medical advice to more patients at the same time	312	17.7
	easy handling of administrative matters, correction of chronic treatment, consultation of results, or extension of prescriptions	58	3.3
	the possibility of better preparation for the visit	10	0.6
	enabling the division of patients into infectious and non-infectious	7	0.4
	better control of chronic disease therapy	5	0.3
	other (e.g., the convenience of patients who do not have to leave their home)	35	2.0
	total number of responses	1763	100.0
Disadvantages of teleconsultation	no possibility of personal examination of the patient	649	34.0
	unreliable transmission of information	428	22.4
	difficulties resulting from the patient’s symptoms (e.g., deterioration of hearing, psychotics disorders)	430	22.5
	technical difficulties	372	19.5
	long-winded conversations due to patients’ chattering or need to explain slowly various health issues	12	0.6
	patients are unprepared for teleconsultation, problems with calling the patient	10	0.5
	lack of non-verbal communication	4	0.2
	bad attitude of elderly patients to teleconsultations	2	0.1
	no disadvantages	2	0.1
	total number of responses	1909	100.0