{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]],"date-time":"2026-06-30T19:01:23Z","timestamp":1782846083752,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"JMIR Publications Inc.","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J Med Internet Res"],"abstract":"Abstract<\/jats:title>\n \n Background<\/jats:title>\n Although video consultations (VCs) are permitted in German outpatient care and have seen a notable rise during the COVID-19 pandemic, their use still does not seem to have become established in Germany.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n This survey aims to evaluate the attitudes of physicians and psychotherapists with regard to the use of VC after the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular in the context of types of treatment and suitable medical fields.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n A standardized questionnaire was sent out to all 34,095 physicians and psychotherapists in 4 German regions. The analysis consisted of both descriptive and inferential statistics. Subgroup analysis included gender, age groups, community size of practice location, VC experience, type and ownership of practice, and area of medical care. Binary logistic regression was conducted to determine whether physicians\u2019 and psychotherapists\u2019 individual factors, organizational factors, or area of medical care were associated with at least monthly VC provision or interest in VC provision.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n \n The response rate was 17.9%, including a total of 5930 participants in the analysis. About 40% (2216\/5863) of the physicians and psychotherapists surveyed stated that they offer VC at least once a month. In the area of medical care, the odds ratio (OR) of at least monthly VC provision in psychotherapeutic care was about 8.2 (95% CI 7.4\u20101.64;\n P<\/jats:italic>\n <.001) compared to primary care, whereas in specialist care, the odds for monthly VC provision were approximately 50% lower than in primary care (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.43-0.59;\n P<\/jats:italic>\n <.001). Further, female participants have higher odds to provide VC at least once a month (OR 1.163, 95% CI 1.01\u20101.34;\n P<\/jats:italic>\n =.03). The odds for monthly VC provision in older age groups are approximately 60% higher than in the <40 years old age group (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.32-0.52;\n P<\/jats:italic>\n <.001). Around 80% (4347\/5442) of the participants expressed interest in VC use. The most common occasions for which treatment by VC was reported to be suitable were discussing test results (1422\/1896, 75.0%), taking the patient\u2019s medical history (1195\/2147, 55.7%), issuing prescriptions for drugs and remedies (793\/1204, 65.9%), and the issuing of incapacity certificates for work (677\/1042, 65.0%).\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n There has been an increase in the self-reported uptake of VC among physicians and psychotherapists compared to prepandemic levels, although this remains at a relatively low level in primary and specialist care. A significant proportion of doctors and psychotherapists have expressed an interest in using VC after the pandemic period. However, this self-reported use is not yet reflected in actual usage data, suggesting the need for further investigation into the underlying factors influencing the gap and identifying potential enablers. Further, these self-assessments by service providers on suitable types of treatment and suitable medical fields can inform political decision-making.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2196\/73757","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,6]],"date-time":"2026-01-06T21:44:21Z","timestamp":1767735861000},"page":"e73757-e73757","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Attitudes Toward Video Consultations From the Perspective of Physicians and Psychotherapists in German Outpatient Care After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Survey Study"],"prefix":"10.2196","volume":"28","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-5917-0995","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lara","family":"Kleinschmidt","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9653-168X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Juergen","family":"Wasem","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3774-5009","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nikola","family":"Blase","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-2380-2522","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Beatrice","family":"Nauendorf","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-4107-9944","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Juliane","family":"Malsch","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-7829-6387","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Matthias","family":"Brittner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-7613-2493","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paul","family":"Brandenburg","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-9655-6138","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andr\u00e9","family":"Aeustergerling","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-7628-5707","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Theresa","family":"H\u00fcer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1010","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,6]]},"reference":[{"issue":"8","key":"R1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/38600","article-title":"Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global delivery of mental health services and telemental health: systematic review","volume":"9","author":"Zangani","journal-title":"JMIR Ment Health"},{"issue":"7","key":"R2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1132","DOI":"10.1093\/jamia\/ocaa072","article-title":"COVID-19 transforms health care through telemedicine: evidence from the field","volume":"27","author":"Mann","journal-title":"J Am Med Inform Assoc"},{"issue":"1","key":"R3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1016\/S2215-0366(21)00474-0","article-title":"COVID-19 and the global acceleration of digital psychiatry","volume":"9","author":"Stein","journal-title":"Lancet Psychiatry"},{"key":"R4","unstructured":"Bericht des Bewertungsausschusses und des erg\u00e4nzenden Bewertungsausschusses zur telemedizinischen Leistungserbringung im Einheitlichen Bewertungsma\u00dfstab [Report in German]. Deutscher Bundestag; 2022. URL: https:\/\/dserver.bundestag.de\/btd\/20\/049\/2004982.pdf [Accessed 28-11-2025]"},{"issue":"5","key":"R5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"309","DOI":"10.1177\/1357633X20916567","article-title":"Telehealth for global emergencies: implications for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)","volume":"26","author":"Smith","journal-title":"J Telemed Telecare"},{"key":"R6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/60170","article-title":"Use of video consultation between 2017 and 2020 in outpatient medical care in Germany and characteristics of their user groups: analysis of claims data","volume":"9","author":"H\u00fcer","journal-title":"JMIR Form Res"},{"key":"R7","unstructured":"Mangiapane S . F\u00fcnf jahre videosprechstunde in der vertrags\u00e4rztlichen versorgung: hat die pandemie zum durchbruch gef\u00fchrt [Book in German]. In: Repschl\u00e4ger U Schulte C Osterkamp N , editors. Gesundheitswesen Aktuell 2023 Beitr\u00e4ge Und Analysen. Barmer Institut fur Gesundheitssystemforschung; 2023:82-99. URL: https:\/\/www.bifg.de\/media\/dl\/gesundheitswesen-aktuell\/2023\/gwa-2023_mangiapane.pdf [Accessed 28-11-2025]"},{"key":"R8","unstructured":"Albrecht M Otten M Bernhard J . PraxisBarometer digitalisierung 2022: befragung von vertrags\u00e4rztinnen\/-\u00e4rzten und vertrags [Report in German]. iGES; 2022. URL: https:\/\/www.iges.com\/sites\/igesgroup\/iges.de\/myzms\/content\/e6\/e1621\/e10211\/e27603\/e27639\/e27640\/e27642\/attr_objs27737\/IGES_PraxisBaroDigit2021_Kurzbericht_ger.pdf [Accessed 28-11-2025]"},{"key":"R9","unstructured":"Mangiapane S Kretschmann J Czihal T Stillfired D v . Zi-trendreport zur vertrags\u00e4rztlichen versorgung: bundesweiter tabellarischer report vom 1 [Report in German]. Zentralinstitut kassenarztliche Versorgung; 2025. URL: https:\/\/www.zi.de\/fileadmin\/Downloads\/Service\/Publikationen\/Zi-Trendreport_2023-Q2.pdf [Accessed 22-07-2024]"},{"issue":"1","key":"R10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12875-022-01699-7","article-title":"Use of telemedicine in the outpatient sector during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey of German physicians","volume":"23","author":"Kn\u00f6rr","journal-title":"BMC Prim Care"},{"issue":"12","key":"R11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1923","DOI":"10.1377\/hlthaff.2018.05077","article-title":"The use of telemedicine by physicians: still the exception rather than the rule","volume":"37","author":"Kane","journal-title":"Health Aff"},{"issue":"11","key":"R12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/40469","article-title":"Visit types in primary care with telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic: systematic review","volume":"10","author":"Ward","journal-title":"JMIR Med Inform"},{"issue":"1","key":"R13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-023-09309-7","article-title":"Video consultation in general practice: a scoping review on use, experiences, and clinical decisions","volume":"23","author":"Wander\u00e5s","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"issue":"3","key":"R14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7759\/cureus.56308","article-title":"Acceptability and satisfaction of patients and providers with telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review","volume":"16","author":"Saeed","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"issue":"3","key":"R15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"160","DOI":"10.1097\/QMH.0000000000000359","article-title":"Physician satisfaction with telehealth: a systematic review and agenda for future research","volume":"31","author":"Hoff","journal-title":"Qual Manag Health Care"},{"key":"R16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/47173","article-title":"Low adoption of video consultations in post-COVID-19 general practice in Northern Europe: barriers to use and potential action points","volume":"25","author":"Assing Hvidt","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"issue":"1","key":"R17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"98","DOI":"10.1287\/orsc.5.1.98","article-title":"Windows of opportunity: temporal patterns of technological adaptation in organizations","volume":"5","author":"Tyre","journal-title":"Organ Sci"},{"key":"R18","unstructured":"Fahy N Williams GA Habicht T et al. Use of Digital Health Tools in Europe: Before, During and After COVID-19. European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies; 2021. [Medline: 35099866]"},{"key":"R19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/50932","article-title":"Preference-based implementation of video consultations in urban and rural regions in outpatient care in Germany: protocol for a mixed methods study","volume":"13","author":"Kleinschmidt","journal-title":"JMIR Res Protoc"},{"key":"R20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"H\u00e4der M . Empirische Sozialforschung [Book in German]. Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden; 2019. ISBN: 978-3658269852","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-658-26986-9"},{"key":"R21","unstructured":"Milbert A , editor. Raumabgrenzungen und Raumtypen des BBSR [Book in German]. Bonn; 2012:111. ISBN: 978-3-87994-697-6"},{"issue":"1\/2","key":"R22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/2333101","article-title":"The estimation and comparison of strengths of association in contingency tables","volume":"40","author":"Stuart","journal-title":"Biometrika"},{"key":"R23","unstructured":"Cram\u00e9r H . Mathematical Methods of Statistics (PMS-9). Princeton University Press; 2016:1593. ISBN: 978-1-4008-8386-8"},{"key":"R24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cohen J . Hillsdale NJ , editor. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. 2nd ed. Erlbaum; 1988:567. [doi: 10.4324\/9780203771587] ISBN: 978-0805802832","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203771587"},{"key":"R25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.imu.2022.100943","article-title":"Acceptance of telemedicine technology among physicians: a systematic review","volume":"30","author":"Garavand","journal-title":"Inform Med Unlocked"},{"issue":"1","key":"R26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41746-023-00899-4","article-title":"Barriers and facilitators to utilizing digital health technologies by healthcare professionals","volume":"6","author":"Borges do Nascimento","journal-title":"NPJ Digit Med"},{"key":"R27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ceh.2023.12.002","article-title":"Post pandemic analysis on comprehensive utilization of telehealth and telemedicine","volume":"7","author":"Ndwabe","journal-title":"Clinical eHealth"},{"key":"R28","unstructured":"Gunja M Gumas ED Williams R . How primary care physicians experience telehealth: an international comparison\u2014findings from the 2022 international health policy survey of primary care physicians. The Commonwealth Fund; 2023. URL: https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/3pxu6chz [Accessed 27-11-2025]"},{"issue":"1","key":"R29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41746-024-01049-0","article-title":"Understanding inherent influencing factors to digital health adoption in general practices through a mixed-methods analysis","volume":"7","author":"Weik","journal-title":"NPJ Digit Med"},{"issue":"12","key":"R30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/31746","article-title":"Implementation, adoption, and perceptions of telemental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: systematic review","volume":"23","author":"Appleton","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"R31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/50580","article-title":"Capturing patients\u2019 and clinicians\u2019 experiences of using video consultations in mental health outpatient services: qualitative thematic analysis","volume":"8","author":"Shaker","journal-title":"JMIR Form Res"},{"key":"R32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/44790","article-title":"Psychiatric treatment conducted via telemedicine versus in-person modality in posttraumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"10","author":"Shaker","journal-title":"JMIR Ment Health"},{"issue":"17","key":"R33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm12175673","article-title":"The effect of telemedicine in glycemic control in adult patients with diabetes during the COVID-19 era - a systematic review","volume":"12","author":"Sotomayor","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"issue":"166","key":"R34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1183\/16000617.0180-2022","article-title":"Virtual consultations for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"31","author":"Alsaif","journal-title":"Eur Respir Rev"},{"issue":"2","key":"R35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1177\/12034754231223694","article-title":"Teledermatology in atopic dermatitis: a systematic review","volume":"28","author":"Verma","journal-title":"J Cutan Med Surg"},{"key":"R36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2022.1052055","article-title":"Evaluation of the use of video consultation in German rheumatology care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"9","author":"Richter","journal-title":"Front Med (Lausanne)"},{"issue":"2","key":"R37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/26433","article-title":"Suitability of video consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: cross-sectional survey among Norwegian general practitioners","volume":"23","author":"Johnsen","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"issue":"1","key":"R38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-023-09529-x","article-title":"Stakeholder perspectives and experiences of the implementation of remote mental health consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study","volume":"23","author":"Galvin","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"issue":"1","key":"R39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1016\/j.surg.2024.03.033","article-title":"Attitudes and barriers toward video visits in surgical care: insights from a nationwide survey among surgeons","volume":"176","author":"Kulkarni","journal-title":"Surgery"},{"issue":"3","key":"R40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.5455\/aim.2018.26.201-206","article-title":"The use of telemedicine in surgical care: a systematic review","volume":"26","author":"Asiri","journal-title":"Acta Inform Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"R41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-021-06950-y","article-title":"Challenges in current nursing home care in rural Germany and how they can be reduced by telehealth - an exploratory qualitative pre-post study","volume":"21","author":"May","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"R42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/65147","article-title":"Factors associated with the availability of virtual consultations in primary care across 20 countries: cross-sectional study","volume":"27","author":"Kerr","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"issue":"1","key":"R43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjhci-2020-100256","article-title":"COVID-19 and beyond: virtual consultations in primary care-reflecting on the evidence base for implementation and ensuring reach: commentary article","volume":"28","author":"Mold","journal-title":"BMJ Health Care Inform"},{"issue":"686","key":"R44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e586","DOI":"10.3399\/bjgp19X704141","article-title":"Acceptability, benefits, and challenges of video consulting: a qualitative study in primary care","volume":"69","author":"Donaghy","journal-title":"Br J Gen Pract"},{"key":"R45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.technovation.2022.102536","article-title":"Innovating under pressure: adopting digital technologies in social care organizations during the COVID-19 crisis","volume":"115","author":"Kateb","journal-title":"Technovation"},{"issue":"2","key":"R46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/28589","article-title":"Patient satisfaction and trust in telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic: retrospective observational study","volume":"8","author":"Orrange","journal-title":"JMIR Hum Factors"}],"container-title":["Journal of Medical Internet Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.jmir.org\/2026\/1\/e73757","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]],"date-time":"2026-06-30T18:04:37Z","timestamp":1782842677000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.jmir.org\/2026\/1\/e73757"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,6]]},"references-count":46,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2196\/73757","relation":{},"ISSN":["1438-8871"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1438-8871","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,6]]},"article-number":"v28i8e73757"}}