TELEMEDICINE SERVICES IN GEORGIAN PENITENTIARY INSTITUTIONS: AWARENESS, UTILIZATION AND PERCEIVED BENEFITS AMONG INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52340/jecm.2026.03.05Keywords:
telemedicine, teleconsultation, penitentiary system, healthcare accessibilityAbstract
Introduction: Telemedicine is one of the important directions in modern healthcare, which is particularly relevant in the prison system, where access to medical services is often associated with geographical, organizational, and security-related challenges. The aim of the study was to assess the awareness of telemedicine among individuals in Georgian penitentiary institutions, their experience with teleconsultations, perceived benefits, barriers, and attitudes.
Materials and Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1 to March 1, 2025, in three institutions of the Georgian penitentiary system. A total of 122 respondents participated in the study. Selection was done using a non-probabilistic (convenience) sampling method. The data were processed using descriptive statistical methods.
Results: 60.7% of respondents had knowledge about telemedicine, while 45.9% had used teleconsultation services at least once. 45.9% of participants believed that it is possible to receive accurate medical care through telemedicine. The main advantage of telemedicine identified was timely access to medical services (80.4%). The main barriers to using teleconsultation were found to be internet connectivity issues (23.2%) and lack of technological skills (23.2%). Among respondents who had experience with teleconsultation, 82.1% were satisfied with the received service. The most in-demand specialist was a psychiatrist (72.1%). Only 4.1% of respondents expressed no desire to use teleconsultation.
Conclusion: The study results suggest that telemedicine is well-received in Georgia's penitentiary system and holds significant potential for improving access to specialized medical services. The high demand observed in the field of mental health highlights the importance of further developing telepsychiatry. Despite existing technical barriers, further integration of telemedicine could make a meaningful contribution to increasing the efficiency of the prison healthcare system.
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