Diabetic Patients’ Satisfaction of Teleconsultations and Associated Factors during COVID-19 Pandemic at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis increased the utilization of teleconsultation globally to reduce the risk of virus transmission. Patients’ satisfaction is an important determinant to ensure quality of health service. However, such patient-related factors are under-investigated and poorly documented in developing countries such as Ethiopia. Therefore, the objective of the study was to assess diabetic patients’ satisfaction with teleconsultations and associated factors during COVID-19 pandemic at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2021. Methods and Materials: A facility-based, cross-sectional study design was conducted at Endocrinology Unit of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 15th of November to 31st of December 2021. Randomly selected 295 diabetic patients who received phone-based medical consultations during the pandemic were interviewed. Data was collected using a pretested, structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data was entered, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the data and logistic regression was used to determine associations between dependent and independent variables. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. Tables, figures and texts were used to present the results. Results: A total of 280 patients responded to the virtual interview successfully, with a response rate of 94.9%. Overall, 148 (52.9%) were satisfied with teleconsultation service. Being urban residents [AOR=3.68 (95%CI: 1.67, 8.09)], being unemployed [AOR=4.57(95%CI:2.31, 9.05)], having disease duration of >10 years [AOR=3.07(95%CI:1.31,7.21)] and absence of diabetic nephropathy [AOR=2.92 (95%CI:1.22,6.98)] were the factors that affected patient satisfaction positively. Conclusions: With certain contributing factors, more than half of the diabetic patients were satisfied with the teleconsultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a better understanding of context-specific patients’ reasons for dissatisfaction need to be further explored in the planning and implementation of teleconsultations in Ethiopia.