Public Usage, Perceived Usefulness, and Satisfaction with E-health Services in COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: On a global scale, health institutions have used electronic health (e-health) services to challenge the COVID-19 virus. Objectives: This study aimed to assess people’s use and perceived usefulness of e-health services their satisfaction with these services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The present cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in November 2021 in Kerman. The data were collected using a researcher-made online questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was comprised of four sections and 33 questions. A logistic regression analysis was run to test the relationship between demographic variables and the rate of use, usefulness, and satisfaction variables. Pearson correlation coefficient was run to test the association between these variables. Results: The age range of 527 participants was 16 - 61. Television had the highest level of use, usefulness, and satisfaction. Pearson's correlation coefficient results showed a significant relationship between the variables of usage and satisfaction, usefulness and satisfaction, and usefulness and usage. These associations were stronger in the rate of use and perceived usefulness of and satisfaction with social networks than in other e-health services (r = 0.87, r = 0.95, P < 0.0001 respectively). Conclusions: The study finding showed that television is more than other platforms used and useful, and people were more satisfied with the information they acquired from them. The present findings can be useful for healthcare policymakers and developers of e-health technologies in a similar situation to the COVID-19 pandemic.