Patient Perceptions of Telephonic Visits during the COVID-19 Pandemic-Is Video Connectivity Imperative?

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Health Services Research
• Telehealth

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid shift to remote patient care.
• Understanding patient perceptions of different remote care modalities is crucial for optimizing healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient perceptions of telemedicine (video) versus telephonic (audio-only) visits.
• To assess patient satisfaction, timeliness, efficiency, and willingness to use remote visits post-pandemic.

Main Methods:

• A single-center cohort of 76 patients undergoing remote urology visits (March-July 2020) was surveyed.
• Questionnaires evaluated perceptions of timeliness, efficiency, satisfaction, and future use.
• Responses were compared between telephonic and telemedicine visit groups.

Main Results:

• Both telephonic and telemedicine visits received high overall satisfaction scores (mean 6.61/7).
• Telephonic visits were rated significantly higher for timeliness and efficiency (p<0.05).
• A majority (91%) of patients desired the option of virtual visits post-pandemic.

Conclusions:

• Patients report high satisfaction with remote urology care, with a preference for telephonic visits regarding timeliness and efficiency.
• The demand for continued virtual visit options (telephonic and telemedicine) is substantial.
• Further research is needed on safety, efficacy, provider perspectives, and economic impact to guide future telehealth implementation.