Use of Telemedicine Among Hand Surgeons and Their Patients

Initially designed to address geographic obstacles to patient care, reliance on telemedicine rapidly increased during the coronavirus pandemic. The purpose of this study was to analyze the proficiency of computer and mobile device usage among a cohort of surgeons and their patients who either used telemedicine or had in-person visits.

We retrospectively identified patients who had an outpatient telemedicine visit (T group), or in-person visit (NT group) with a hand and wrist orthopedic surgeon, between March 2020 and July 2020. These patients and their surgeons were sent the Computer Proficiency Questionnaire (CPQ-12) and the Mobile Device Questionnaire (MDPQ-16) via email. A total of 602 survey responses were collected, 279 of which belonged to patients in the T group and 323 to patients in the NT group.

The two groups were similar in demographics, including age and sex. Scores on the CPQ-12 and MDPQ-16 did not significantly differ between the two groups. In the patient sample, there was no correlation between CPQ-12 and MDPQ-16 scores and the proportion of telehealth visits. The orthopedic surgeon group also had no observed correlation between the CPQ-12 and MDPQ-16 scores and number or proportion of telemedicine visits.

Overall proficiency with computer and mobile devices was not correlated with the likelihood of patients or orthopedic surgeons using telemedicine visits. Patient selection appears to be driven by other factors, which could include limitations in transportation, convenience, and time constraints.

Orthopedic surgeons should continue to offer telehealth visits to their patients regardless of estimated capabilities with electronic devices of both the patient and the surgeon.