The Evaluation of Telemedicine-Online Health Services During Covid-19 in Turkey Private Hospitals : Thematic Analysis the Evaluation of Telemedicine-Online Health Services

Abstract

Aim: With the Covid-19 outbreak, it has been observed that people wanted to receive healthcare services remotely. In other words, people wanted to reach healthcare services or healthcare professionals from their homes without going to the hospital. Thus, this study aimed to determine how telemedicine-online health services of private hospitals are handled on websites and social media channels.

Material and Methods: Data was collected by conducting qualitative content analysis to the websites and corporate social media of hospitals in Istanbul, the city where the most private hospitals in Turkey are located. Overall, 608 data from 76 hospitals were analysed using the thematic analysis method.

Results: When the analysis of the information was received a total of 8 themes emerged. These were divided into thematic codes as the telemedicine-online health service status, including the number of hospital beds, the content of written, visuals etc. posts, features of the branches of the application and details of other online health services.

Discussion: The use of telemedicine-online health services in private hospitals is found to be at the initial stage and written and visual posts are insufficient The information collected can help determine the current situation and contribute to private hospitals when determining new strategies.