Telemedicine as a support tool in remote and operational settings: A qualitative study with early-career physicians and nurses

Abstract

The delivery of healthcare in remote and operational settings presents persistent challenges related to limited resources, geographic isolation, and restricted access to specialized medical expertise. Telemedicine has emerged as a promising digital health intervention to support healthcare professionals working under such conditions. This qualitative study explores how telemedicine functions as a support tool for early-career physicians and nurses delivering care in rural healthcare facilities and operational medical contexts in Greece, including military-related environments. Using a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with early-career healthcare professionals (n=7) to capture their experiences, perceptions, and practices related to telemedicine-supported clinical decision-making. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, enabling the identification of key themes related to clinical support, workflow integration, technological challenges, professional confidence, and perceived impact on care delivery. Findings suggest that telemedicine contributes to enhanced clinical confidence, improved access to specialist guidance, and perceived improvements in patient management, while also revealing socio-technical challenges such as connectivity limitations, workflow disruptions, and training needs. By focusing on the lived experiences of early-career clinicians, this study contributes to the understanding of telemedicine as a socio-technical support mechanism rather than solely a technological solution. The findings have implications for healthcare organizations and policymakers seeking to design, implement, and scale telemedicine services in remote and operational healthcare settings.