PATIENT ATTITUDES TOWARD TELEHEALTH IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: A QUALITATIVE EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS FOR SUSTAINABLE AND QUALITY-ORIENTED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Perihan Şenel Tekin; Yonca Özatkan

doi:10.33457/ijhsrp.1940228

PATIENT ATTITUDES TOWARD TELEHEALTH IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: A QUALITATIVE EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS FOR SUSTAINABLE AND QUALITY-ORIENTED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

Telehealth has become a central component of digital transformation in primary health care. Although its operational benefits are well documented, a clearer understanding of patient attitudes is essential for ensuring patient-centred, equitable, and sustainable service delivery. This study aimed to explore and synthesise adult patients’ attitudes toward telehealth in primary health care, with particular attention to perceived benefits, experienced difficulties, and contextual influences on acceptance. This study was designed as a qualitative evidence synthesis and reported in accordance with the ENTREQ statement. Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify peer-reviewed qualitative studies published in English between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025. Eligible studies examined adult patients’ experiences, perceptions, or attitudes regarding telehealth in primary care or primary-care-linked services. The study selection process was documented in accordance with the PRISMA framework. Data were synthesised through thematic synthesis, including line-by-line coding, development of descriptive themes, and generation of higher-order analytical interpretations. Seventeen studies were included. The synthesis showed that telehealth was generally perceived as a valuable but conditional mode of care. Patients particularly valued improved access, convenience, reduced travel burden, and support for follow-up and self-management. At the same time, they reported important concerns related to limited physical examination, communication quality, impersonality, technical difficulties, and uneven digital capability. Attitudes were strongly shaped by telehealth modality, consultation purpose, continuity of care, prior patient–clinician relationships, and social and technological conditions. Adult patients’ attitudes toward telehealth in primary health care are nuanced and context-dependent rather than uniformly positive or negative. Sustainable integration of telehealth requires more than technological availability; it depends on relational continuity, clear communication, clinical appropriateness, and equitable digital access. Telehealth is most likely to be accepted when implemented as part of a hybrid, patient-centred primary care model.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

No financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Ethical Statement

This study does not involve human participants, patient data, animal subjects, or any intervention. Therefore, ethical approval was not required. The manuscript represents original work, is not under consideration by any other journal, and has been approved by all authors for submission.

Thanks

The authors would like to acknowledge the use of artificial intelligence tools for language editing and translation support during the preparation of this manuscript. The intellectual content, interpretation, and final responsibility for the manuscript remain entirely with the authors.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Digital Health

Journal Section

Systematic Reviews and Meta Analysis

Authors

Perihan Şenel Tekin ^*
0000-0002-4513-7049
Türkiye

Yonca Özatkan
0000-0002-1388-1148
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 24, 2026

Submission Date

April 29, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 18, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 11 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.1940228

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA94GY67GD

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Şenel Tekin, P., & Özatkan, Y. (2026). PATIENT ATTITUDES TOWARD TELEHEALTH IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: A QUALITATIVE EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS FOR SUSTAINABLE AND QUALITY-ORIENTED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, 11(2), 206-229. https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.1940228

AMA

1.Şenel Tekin P, Özatkan Y. PATIENT ATTITUDES TOWARD TELEHEALTH IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: A QUALITATIVE EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS FOR SUSTAINABLE AND QUALITY-ORIENTED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION. IJHSRP. 2026;11(2):206-229. doi:10.33457/ijhsrp.1940228

Chicago

Şenel Tekin, Perihan, and Yonca Özatkan. 2026. “PATIENT ATTITUDES TOWARD TELEHEALTH IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: A QUALITATIVE EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS FOR SUSTAINABLE AND QUALITY-ORIENTED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION”. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy 11 (2): 206-29. https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.1940228.

EndNote

Şenel Tekin P, Özatkan Y (June 1, 2026) PATIENT ATTITUDES TOWARD TELEHEALTH IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: A QUALITATIVE EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS FOR SUSTAINABLE AND QUALITY-ORIENTED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy 11 2 206–229.

IEEE

[1]P. Şenel Tekin and Y. Özatkan, “PATIENT ATTITUDES TOWARD TELEHEALTH IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: A QUALITATIVE EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS FOR SUSTAINABLE AND QUALITY-ORIENTED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION”, IJHSRP, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 206–229, June 2026, doi: 10.33457/ijhsrp.1940228.

ISNAD

Şenel Tekin, Perihan - Özatkan, Yonca. “PATIENT ATTITUDES TOWARD TELEHEALTH IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: A QUALITATIVE EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS FOR SUSTAINABLE AND QUALITY-ORIENTED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION”. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy 11/2 (June 1, 2026): 206-229. https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.1940228.

JAMA

1.Şenel Tekin P, Özatkan Y. PATIENT ATTITUDES TOWARD TELEHEALTH IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: A QUALITATIVE EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS FOR SUSTAINABLE AND QUALITY-ORIENTED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION. IJHSRP. 2026;11:206–229.

MLA

Şenel Tekin, Perihan, and Yonca Özatkan. “PATIENT ATTITUDES TOWARD TELEHEALTH IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: A QUALITATIVE EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS FOR SUSTAINABLE AND QUALITY-ORIENTED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION”. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, vol. 11, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 206-29, doi:10.33457/ijhsrp.1940228.

Vancouver

1.Perihan Şenel Tekin, Yonca Özatkan. PATIENT ATTITUDES TOWARD TELEHEALTH IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: A QUALITATIVE EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS FOR SUSTAINABLE AND QUALITY-ORIENTED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION. IJHSRP. 2026 Jun. 1;11(2):206-29. doi:10.33457/ijhsrp.1940228