Jiménez-Rodríguez, DianaSantillán García, AzucenaMontoro Robles, JesúsRodríguez Salvador, María del MarMuñoz Ronda, Francisco JoséArrogante, Oscar2021-06-252021-06-252020-07-15Jiménez-Rodríguez D, Santillán García A, Montoro Robles J, Rodríguez Salvador MDM, Muñoz Ronda FJ, Arrogante O. Increase in Video Consultations During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Healthcare Professionals' Perceptions about Their Implementation and Adequate Management. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jul 15;17(14):5112.http://hdl.handle.net/10668/3395In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, health care modalities such as video consultations have been rapidly developed to provide safe health care and to minimize the risk of spread. The purpose of our study is to explore Spanish healthcare professionals’ perceptions about the implementation of video consultations. Based on the testimonies of 53 professionals, different categories emerged related to the four identified themes: benefits of video consultations (for professionals, patients, and the health system, and compared to phone calls), negative aspects (inherent to new technologies and the risk of a perceived distancing from the professional), difficulties associated with the implementation of video consultations (technological difficulties, lack of technical skills and refusal to use video consultation among professionals and patients), and the need for training (technological, nontechnical, and social-emotional skills, and adaptation of technical skills). Additionally, the interviewees indicated that this new modality of health care may be extended to a broader variety of patients and clinical settings. Therefore, since video consultations are becoming more widespread, it would be advisable for health policies and systems to support this modality of health care, promoting their implementation and guaranteeing their operability, equal access and quality.enClinical skillsCOVID-19Healthcare providersImplementationInterpersonal skillsPerceptionQualitative researchTelemedicineTrainingVideo consultationCompetencia clínicaInfecciones por coronavirusPersonal de saludHabilidades socialesPercepciónInvestigación cualitativaTelemedicinaMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Care Facilities, Manpower, and Services::Health PersonnelMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Services Administration::Quality of Health Care::Clinical CompetenceMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Virus Diseases::RNA Virus Infections::Nidovirales Infections::Coronaviridae Infections::Coronavirus InfectionsMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::MaleMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Environment and Public Health::Public Health::Disease Outbreaks::Epidemics::PandemicsMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Virus Diseases::Pneumonia, ViralMedical Subject Headings::Disciplines and Occupations::Natural Science Disciplines::Science::Research::Empirical Research::Qualitative ResearchMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Services Administration::Organization and Administration::Professional Practice::Referral and ConsultationMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Services Administration::Patient Care Management::Delivery of Health Care::TelemedicineIncrease in Video Consultations During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions about Their Implementation and Adequate Managementresearch article32679848open access10.3390/ijerph171451121660-4601PMC7400154