# An Analysis of Switching Behavior from Traditional Hospital Visit to E-Health Consultation

## TL;DR

This study explores why patients in India are switching from visiting hospitals to using e-health services, finding that convenience and pandemic needs are key factors.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific factors influencing the shift to e-health consultations in urban and semi-urban India.

## Key findings

- Switching to e-health services is positively associated with factors like convenience and flexibility.
- Digital literacy and infrastructure gaps remain significant barriers to e-health adoption.
- Integrated data analysis showed significant improvement in decision-making for e-health services (p < 0.001).

## Abstract

With the rapid digital transformation of healthcare services in India, this study investigates the factors influencing the behavioral shift from traditional hospital visits to e-health consultations. The primary objective was to analyze patient attitudes, satisfaction, and perceived barriers to adopting virtual healthcare, especially in urban and semi-urban settings. Methods: The methodology adopted in the study was descriptive, and a convenience sampling technique was used for data collection because the feasible times of the patients’ availabilities were taken into consideration for data collection. Both primary and secondary data were collected using questionnaires and literature. A sample size of 385 participants was used in this study. Various statistical tools, such as frequency, ANOVA, and Chi-square tests, were used to test the hypotheses. Results: It was observed from ANOVA and Chi-square tests that the factors for switching from traditional consultation to e-health services have a positive association. It was found that integrating data through influencing factors significantly (p < 0.001) improved decisions on e-health services. Conclusion: This study highlights the shift from in-person to e-health consultations driven by convenience, flexibility, and pandemic-related needs while acknowledging barriers such as digital literacy, infrastructure gaps, and trust issues. It recommends strategies, such as secure platforms, training, and integrated care models, for a more inclusive digital health future.