Exploring the Feasibility and Challenges of Treating Follow-up Patients via a Mobile Platform in China

Mobile technology is being increasingly adopted in teleconsultation for its convenience and mobility. Although widely accepted by physicians for informal online consultations, the effectiveness of mobile platforms in formal medical interventions, such as follow-up treatments, remains largely underexplored. This research presents a case study from a Chinese hospital, examining how physicians use mobile platforms to treat chronic patients, the challenges they encounter, and their overall experience. The study aims to determine whether mobile technology can enable physicians to fulfill their responsibilities in managing chronic disease follow-ups online. Through observations and interviews, we found that using mobile platforms introduces significant challenges. Physicians operate in complex and varying environments, such as workplaces, homes, and even public areas, making them struggle to access comprehensive information, communicate effectively, and maintain detailed medical records. As a result, physicians face poor working conditions, reduced efficiency, and struggle to make accurate treatment decisions. This study highlights the need for policy reforms and technological innovations to ensure sustainable teleconsultation practices on mobile platforms. It contributes to the HCI and CSCW communities by highlighting the feasibility of using mobile platforms in online chronic disease follow-ups.