Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed work organization in hospitals, notably with the expansion of telework. This study aimed to assess perceptions of telework among hospital workers throughout the pandemic and to identify factors associated with telework perceptions in the post-pandemic period. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2023. All hospital workers, regardless of their occupation or status, were invited to participate in an online survey. Perceptions of telework were assessed using visual analog scales, ranging from 0 (very negative) to 100 (very positive), across three periods: before the COVID-19 pandemic, during the first French lockdown, and after the pandemic. A total of 882 hospital workers were included in the analysis. Throughout the pandemic, 41.4% reported adopting telework. Overall, perceptions of telework became significantly more positive over time, rising from a mean score of 54.3 ± 25.3 before the pandemic, to 62.7 ± 27.4 during the first lockdown, and to 66.0 ± 27.5 after the pandemic (P < .001). Experiencing telework for the first time was associated with more favorable perceptions, with high levels sustained among those who continued teleworking post-pandemic. Perceptions of telework improved significantly among hospital workers throughout the pandemic with notable shifts in work practices, with nearly one third of participants teleworking in the post-pandemic period. Experiencing telework was associated with more positive perceptions.