Researchers: Orly Toren¹, Sima Reicher¹

Background: Online Health Services (OHS) have emerged in response to healthcare challenges and provide a way to streamline the healthcare system. Despite their numerous advantages, various studies have presented differing findings regarding their efficacy in populations with different sociodemographic characteristics.

Objectives: To describe OHS use and its characteristics; to examine knowledge, attitudes, barriers, and usage patterns among various groups in Israel; to explore the relationship between OHS consumption and patient-reported outcome and experience measurements (PROMs and PREMs); and to present a predictive model for OHS consumption.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Jewish and Arab populations with a random representative sample taken according to gender, ethnicity, age, and religious affiliation. Sampling was stratified by ethnicity and geographical regions. An online questionnaire was administered through iPanel’s records.

Findings: The sample comprised 2001 participants with an average age of 47, half of them being women. Participants were more familiar with low-level technology and used it more frequently, and most reported the absence of technological or emotional barriers. Perceived efficacy of OHS was high, but some participants preferred face-to-face treatment. Predictors of familiarity and use of high-level OHS included being male, Arab, insured by the Clalit HMO, and having familiarity with OHS, high perceived health literacy, efficacy and safety.

Conclusions: Online treatment and face-to-face treatment are complementary services; High-level OHS and low-level OHS are two distinct types of services; The absence of technological barriers makes it possible to leverage and expand the provision of OHS in Israel.

Recommendations: Efforts should be directed toward improving online health literacy, focusing on using high-level technology; The elderly population’s capabilities and needs should be mapped and personalized service frameworks should be established; Health perception measurements should be used to predict OHS use.

Research end date: 06/2024