Telehealth in cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic
Details
Publication Year 2024-09,Volume 30,Issue #8,Page 1270-1284
Journal Title
Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
Publication Type
Research article
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The Victorian COVID-19 Cancer Network (VCCN) Telehealth Expert Working Group aimed to evaluate the telehealth (TH) experience for cancer patients, carers and clinicians with the rapid uptake of TH in early 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We conducted a prospective multi-centre cross-sectional survey involving eight Victorian regional and metropolitan cancer services and three consumer advocacy groups. Patients or their carers and clinicians who had TH consultations between 1 July 2020 and 31 December 2020 were invited to participate in patient and clinician surveys, respectively. These surveys were opened from September to December 2020. RESULTS: The acceptability of TH via both video (82.9%) and phone (70.4%) were high though acceptability appeared to decrease in older phone TH users. Video was associated with higher satisfaction compared to phone (87.1% vs 79.7%) even though phone was more commonly used. Various themes from the qualitative surveys highlighted barriers and enablers to rapid TH implementation. DISCUSSION: The high TH acceptability supports this as a safe and effective strategy for continued care and should persist beyond the pandemic environment, where patient preferences are considered and clinically appropriate. Ongoing support to health services for infrastructure and resources, as well as expansion of reimbursement eligibility criteria for patients and health professionals, including allied health and nursing, are crucial for sustainability.
Publisher
Sage
Keywords
Humans; *COVID-19/epidemiology; *Telemedicine/organization & administration; *Neoplasms/therapy; Cross-Sectional Studies; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Aged; Adult; SARS-CoV-2; Victoria; Patient Satisfaction; Pandemics; Caregivers/psychology; Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data; Covid-19; Telehealth; cancer care; pandemic
Department(s)
Digital and Healthcare Innovation
Terms of Use/Rights Notice
Refer to copyright notice on published article.


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