Virtual oncology clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Healthcare Management
• Digital Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid changes in healthcare delivery globally.
• An Irish national cancer centre transitioned its oncology service to telemedicine or virtual clinics (VC) to protect high-risk patients.
• This study evaluated the implementation and patient experience of VC in this oncology setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient satisfaction with virtual clinics (VC) in an Irish oncology service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To evaluate patient perceptions regarding the future role of VC in cancer care.
• To determine patient compliance with VC guidelines and their experience of avoiding hospital visits.

Main Methods:

• An 18-point questionnaire was used to gather patient feedback on their VC experience.
• Data was collected from 104 oncology patients (63% response rate) following verbal consent.
• Descriptive statistics were employed for data analysis using SPSS®.

Main Results:

• High overall satisfaction was reported, with 58% of patients equally or nearly equally satisfied with VC compared to usual clinic visits.
• A significant majority (82%) believed VC should have a future role in medical care.
• Most patients (61%) expressed relief in avoiding hospital visits due to COVID-19 exposure risks.

Conclusions:

• Oncology patients generally reported positive experiences and high satisfaction with virtual clinic encounters.
• Virtual clinics are a viable option for future healthcare delivery in Ireland, particularly post-pandemic.
• VC offers a safe and satisfactory alternative for high-risk patient populations in oncology care.