{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T09:00:03Z","timestamp":1790240403827,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,6]],"date-time":"2026-02-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770336000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"\n Background<\/jats:title>\n The sudden onset of the SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted access to in-person nutrition consultation and prompted the rapid adoption of telehealth by dietitians.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n This study investigates the use of telehealth among Lebanese Licensed Dietitians (LDs) during COVID-19, in the absence of national telehealth practical guidelines (TPG), and offers insights into its application amid overlapping crises including a pandemic, economic crisis, and infrastructure disruption in Lebanon.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Design<\/jats:title>\n A cross-sectional study conducted in March 2023, using an anonymous 44-question online survey, distributed via the Lebanese Order of Dietitians and social media platforms. Participants: Ninety-four dietitians participated (98.9% female, mean(SD) age: 30.54(6.41) years); mean(SD) experience: 7.89(5.7) years). Most reported practicing clinical nutrition as their primary practice area (87.2%), primarily in weight management (84%). Main outcome: Measures included Dietitians\u2019 experience with telehealth, tools used in remote consultations, perceived barriers and facilitators, and perspectives on future application. Statistical analyses: Descriptive analysis (counts, frequencies) were analyzed using SPSS version 28.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n Telehealth use rose from 48.4% before COVID-19 to 97.8% during it. Commonly used platforms included WhatsApp (90.3%), Zoom (72.0%), and e-mails (41.9%). Reported barriers included bad internet connection (74.2%), patients preferring face-to-face consultation (61.3%), and patients unfamiliar with emerging videoconferencing technologies (33.3%). Benefits included scheduling and time flexibility (83.9%), decrease in practice-related costs (77.4%), and compliance with social distancing measures (53.8%). Most respondents acknowledged that Telehealth is needed (78.5%) and applicable in the Lebanese context (64.6%) and called for telehealth trainings (78.5%) and national TPG development (74.2%).<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n This study recognizes the growing use of telehealth in Lebanon, underscoring the need for telehealth with national regulations and evidence-based guidelines. Despite limited infrastructure, LDs continued delivering care, emphasizing the urgency for secure and standardized frameworks to support ethical and sustainable digital health practice.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0311330","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,6]],"date-time":"2026-02-06T18:43:00Z","timestamp":1770403380000},"page":"e0311330","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Telehealth during and beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from licensed dietitians in an emerging 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