Telemedicine’s Promise Meets Patient Fatigue
Telemedicine has become a cornerstone of chronic care worldwide, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital health adoption. In Indonesia, virtual consultations helped patients maintain access to doctors during mobility restrictions and remain widely used for follow-up care. For people living with chronic illnesses, telemedicine offers convenience, reduced travel costs, and continuity of treatment.
However, the new study highlights an underreported consequence: digital fatigue. This condition refers to mental and emotional exhaustion caused by repeated and intensive digital interactions. While telemedicine improves access, the researchers found that over time it can also reduce motivation, strain cognitive focus, and weaken emotional connections between patients and healthcare providers.
How the Study Was Conducted
The research team used a qualitative, interview-based approach to capture real patient experiences. They spoke in depth with 12 informants: 10 chronic disease patients who regularly used telemedicine and two healthcare workers who provided virtual care. Interviews lasted up to an hour and explored daily telemedicine use, emotional responses, technical challenges, and overall comfort with digital consultations.
Instead of focusing on statistics, the researchers analyzed personal narratives to identify recurring patterns. This approach allowed them to understand how patients interpret and cope with long-term digital healthcare.
Key Findings: What Drives Digital Fatigue
The study identified several consistent triggers of digital fatigue in chronic care:
· High frequency of virtual consultations
Regular monthly or even more frequent online visits require sustained attention. Patients reported that virtual consultations often demand more mental focus than face-to-face meetings.
· Cognitive strain during online interactions
Patients must concentrate on screens, process medical information, manage apps, and worry about pressing the wrong buttons or losing connection.
· Limited emotional connection
The absence of physical presence, eye contact, and body language made some patients feel less understood and emotionally supported.
· Recurring technical problems
Unstable internet connections, frozen screens, and audio disruptions repeatedly broke patients’ focus and increased frustration.
Together, these factors created a sense of saturation. Some patients delayed consultations or felt reluctant to engage, even though they still recognized the benefits of telemedicine.
Voices from the Research
One patient described the experience simply: focusing through a screen for every consultation “makes the head tired faster.” Another said the lack of emotional connection during video calls made consultations feel “less human.”
According to Hardin, the lead author from Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Kamus Arunika, digital fatigue is not about rejecting technology. Instead, it reflects the psychological load patients carry when digital care becomes routine. He and his co-authors emphasize that fatigue emerges from a combination of cognitive effort, emotional distance, and technical stress.
Healthcare workers interviewed in the study confirmed these observations. They noted that online consultations require extra concentration to ensure patients truly understand medical advice, adding to the overall mental load on both sides.
Why It Matters for Chronic Care
Chronic disease management depends on consistency. Patients need regular check-ins, accurate communication, and long-term engagement. The study shows that digital fatigue can quietly undermine this process by reducing motivation and increasing the tendency to postpone care.
At the same time, patients do not want telemedicine to disappear. Most still value its accessibility and convenience, especially compared to traveling long distances to hospitals. This creates a tension: telemedicine is helpful, but only when designed with patient well-being in mind.
Real-World Implications and Solutions
The findings carry important implications for healthcare providers, policymakers, and digital health companies:
· Human-centered telemedicine design
Platforms should be simpler, more intuitive, and less mentally demanding.
· Flexible consultation schedules
Not all patients need the same frequency of virtual visits. Adjusting schedules can reduce fatigue.
· Hybrid care models
Combining online consultations with periodic face-to-face visits may strengthen emotional connection and reduce saturation.
· Better technical support
Reliable systems and quick assistance can prevent frustration and repeated disruptions.
The authors suggest that small changes—such as shorter sessions, clearer communication, or optional audio-only consultations—can significantly ease the digital burden.
Author Profile
· Hardin, M.Kep., Ns. – Lecturer and nursing researcher at Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Kamus Arunika, Indonesia. Expertise: digital health, patient experience, chronic care.
· Aliah Bagus Purwakania Hasan, Ph.D. – Academic at Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia, specializing in psychology and health behavior.
· Imran Yaman, M.Kes. – Lecturer at STIKES Marendeng Majene, focusing on public health and healthcare services.
Source
Article Title: Patient Perceptions of Digital Fatigue in the Use of Telemedicine During Routine Chronic Care
Journal: Formosa Journal of Science and Technology
Year: 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/fjst.v5i1.367
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