Telemedicine for patients undergoing arthroplasty : access, ability, and preference

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Health Informatics
• Patient Care Technology

Background:

• Telemedicine adoption is increasing in healthcare.
• Understanding patient readiness for telemedicine in orthopedic surgery is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess telemedicine access and usability in total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients.
• Examine socioeconomic factors influencing telemedicine use.
• Evaluate patient perceptions of telemedicine benefits, risks, and preferences.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional survey of adult patients awaiting primary THA/TKA.
• Telephone-administered survey conducted between March and June 2020.
• Data collected on technology access, usage, and consultation preferences.

Main Results:

• High internet (90.4%) and video-capable device ownership (94.1%) reported.
• Most patients (76.1%) had prior video call experience.
• In-person consultations were preferred (82.8%) over videoconferencing (13.9%).
• Benefits included reduced travel (88.2%) and cost (65.8%).
• Concerns cited: diminished patient-physician connection (53.8%) and perceived lower care quality (33.2%).

Conclusions:

• Arthroplasty patients generally possess the technological capacity for telemedicine.
• Patient preference remains with in-person consultations.
• Addressing concerns about connection and care quality is key for telemedicine acceptance in arthroplasty care.