Telehealth in outpatient delivery of palliative care: a prospective survey evaluation by patients and clinicians

Philip, J; Wawryk, O; Pasanen, L; Wong, A; Schwetlik, S; Collins, A

Author(s): Philip, J; Wawryk, O; Pasanen, L; Wong, A; Schwetlik, S; Collins, A;
Details: Publication Year 2022-07,Volume 52,Issue #7,Page 1144-1153
Journal Title: Internal Medicine Journal
Publication Type: Research article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: In Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic new funding models were introduced to support telehealth consultations, resulting in their widescale adoption in palliative care service delivery. Clarity around the clinical circumstances and patient populations that might be most appropriate for telehealth models was required. AIMS: To evaluate patient and physician satisfaction, acceptability and utility of outpatient palliative care provision through telehealth. METHODS: This is a multi-site prospective, cross-sectional, observational study conducted during a time of significant public health restrictions. A survey was used to collect matched patient- and physician-reported perceptions of palliative care telehealth consultations across three metropolitan hospitals in Victoria, Australia. RESULTS: There were 127 matched patient-physician data of telehealth consultations and a further 812 physician-only assessments. Telehealth was generally acceptable and satisfactory, with patients providing greater positive scores than clinicians. Telehealth incorporating both audio and video were more acceptable and satisfactory, particularly with the presence of a carer, and during routine reviews. Physicians were less satisfied using telehealth when there was increasing symptom complexity across all domains (pain, psychological, and other symptoms). CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth has high utility in palliative care practice. A future hybrid model of care comprising both face-to-face and telehealth consultations seems favoured by patients and physicians but must be accompanied by targeted support for specific patient groups to ensure equitable healthcare access. Further evaluation of telehealth during a time of fewer public health emergency measures and lower community anxiety is required to fully understand its ongoing role.
Keywords: *COVID-19/epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Outpatients; Palliative Care/methods; Pandemics; Prospective Studies; *Telemedicine/methods; Victoria/epidemiology; Covid-19; outpatient; palliative care; survey and questionnaire; telemedicine
Department(s): Palliative Care
PubMed ID: 35189018
Publisher's Version: https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.15721
Terms of Use/Rights Notice: Refer to copyright notice on published article.

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