Risks of digitalization of healthcare relevant to doctors of medical organizations of districts of the Saratov region (according to the results of sociological research)

Objective: to determine the risks of digitalization, relevant to doctors, in the rural health care of the Saratov region. Material and Methods. The survey was attended by 87 doctors working in medical organizations in the districts of the Saratov region. The majority (88 %) of the respondents are women. The average age of the respondents is 48±2 years. To conduct the research, a sociological survey questionnaire was developed, which considered the issues of increasing the availability and quality of medical care to the population; problems of rural healthcare, the solutions of which are associated with the digitalization of healthcare; barriers in the development of telemedicine; the willingness of respondents to use telemedicine technologies in professional activities. Results and Discussion. The majority (94 %) of respondents assume that with the development of telemedicine in the region, the availability of medical care for the population will increase, but 81 % of respondents don’t believe that telemedicine will improve the quality of medical care. Only 27 % of respondents used telemedicine technologies in their professional activities. The majority of respondents (92 %) don’t support the expansion of telemedicine capabilities associated with the ability to remotely diagnose and prescribe treatment for a patient; 98 % of respondents exclude an increase in adherence to the treatment of patients in the conditions of telemedicine. Conclusion. The results of the research indicate an insufficient preparatory, technical and organizational component in the process of digitalization of the healthcare system at the regional level