Rapid Deployment of Telemedicine in HIV Care: Mixed Methods Study of Providers’ Attitudes and Perceptions

Abstract BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic prompted an abrupt transition to telemedicine for HIV care, necessitating the exploration of provider attitudes and experiences to understand its ongoing viability and impact. ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess providers’ attitudes toward and experiences with telemedicine at HIV clinics in the Chicago area during the COVID-19 pandemic at 2 time points and at 2 clinical sites. MethodsWe conducted a convergent mixed methods study to evaluate and explore providers’ attitudes toward and experiences with telemedicine at HIV clinics in the Chicago area during the COVID-19 pandemic, applying the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) framework and the updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. This study assessed HIV providers via surveys at 2 time points, capturing responses on the acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, and maintenance of telemedicine. Semistructured key informant interviews were conducted on a random selection of 10 participants to explore perceived experiences with telemedicine. ResultsAmong emailed providers, 43 of 83 (51.8%) and 27 of 82 (32.9%) responded to survey 1 and survey 2, respectively. The first survey recorded telemedicine usage at 75%, which decreased to 58% by the second survey. Overall, the majority of respondents agreed with statements that assessed telemedicine as appropriate, acceptable, and feasible. There were overall few statistical differences in responses between sites, although more providers at the community site indicated at least some potential value in telemedicine when compared to providers at the university hospital (100% agree or strongly agree vs 82.3%; PPP ConclusionsOur study underscores telemedicine as a sustainable adjunct to traditional HIV care, emphasizing the importance of addressing technological and training barriers to enhance its efficacy.