Study of the environment and conditions for implementing the project to develop telemedicine networks at the regional level

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To investigate the professional environment and initial conditions for implementing telemedicine networks in Ukraine (the Chernihiv, Rivne and Odesa regions), and to develop measures facilitating the successful deployment of telemedicine in these regions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 842 healthcare workers across three Ukrainian regions was conducted. The analysis covers five socio-demographic and professional characteristics: age, gender, specialism, length of service and type of healthcare facility. RESULTS: Results: Average scores exceeded 7.4 across all scales, with 70-75% of respondents giving high ratings (7-10). The desire to learn (M=7.84±2.57) exceeds readiness to implement (M=7.45±2.61), suggesting organisational and technical barriers. Gender significantly affects telemedicine scales (women are more motivated), length of service affects overall digital affinity (declining after 10 years), and age correlates weakly only with overall digitalisation. Cluster healthcare facilities (up to 24% sceptics), specialist doctors and male professionals were identified as risk groups. Paediatricians and general practitioners demonstrate the highest motivation and can serve as role models for implementation. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: High acceptance of digital and telemedicine technologies (M>7.4) provides a strong foundation for large-scale implementation. Priority support should target cluster healthcare facilities, specialist doctors, male professionals and long-serving employees. Paediatricians and general practitioners should serve as role models. Organisational and technical barriers must be addressed to bridge the gap between learning motivation and practical application.