Digital Virtual Consultations and Improved Stakeholders’ Health and Wellbeing amongst Hospital Doctors

Dorothy Zammit, Gianpaolo Tomaselli, Sandra C. Buttigieg, Lalit Garg and Gloria Macassa ()
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Dorothy Zammit: Department of Health Systems Management & Leadership, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
Gianpaolo Tomaselli: Department of Health Systems Management & Leadership, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
Sandra C. Buttigieg: Department of Health Systems Management & Leadership, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
Lalit Garg: Department of Computer Information Systems, Faculty of Information & Communication Technology, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
Gloria Macassa: Department of Public Health and Sports Science, Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: The past several decades have seen a shift in patient care towards digitalisation, which has ushered in a new era of health care delivery and improved sustainability and resilience of health systems, with positive impacts on both internal and external stakeholders. This study’s aim was to understand the role of digital virtual consultations in improving internal and external stakeholders’ health, as well as wellbeing among hospital doctors. A qualitative research approach was used with semi-structured online interviews administered to hospital doctors. The interviews showed that the doctors viewed digital virtual consultations as supplementary to in-person consultations, and as tools to reduce obstacles related to distance and time. If the necessary infrastructure and technology were in place, doctors would be willing to use these options. Implementing these technologies would improve the medical profession’s flexibility on the one hand; but it might affect doctors’ work–life balance if consultations extended beyond standard working hours.

Keywords: video consultations; digitalisation; stakeholders’ health and wellbeing; corporate social responsibility; hospital doctors; patient care (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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