Virtual Compared With In-Office Postoperative Visits After Urogynecologic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Urogynecology
• Digital Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Postoperative care following urogynecologic surgery traditionally involves in-office visits.
• The integration of telehealth offers a potential alternative for patient follow-up.
• Assessing the efficacy and safety of virtual postoperative visits is crucial for modern healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient satisfaction, healthcare resource utilization, and adverse events between virtual video and in-office postoperative visits after urogynecologic surgery.
• To determine if virtual video visits are noninferior to traditional in-office visits for postoperative follow-up.
• To evaluate the feasibility of virtual care in managing patients post-urogynecologic procedures.

Main Methods:

• A randomized noninferiority clinical trial was conducted involving patients undergoing surgery for pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence.
• Participants were randomized to either a virtual video postoperative visit or a standard in-office visit.
• Patient satisfaction was measured using the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-18 (PSQ-18), with secondary outcomes including resource utilization and adverse events.

Main Results:

• The study included 100 participants (50 per group), with a mean age of 57.0±13.2 years.
• Virtual video visits demonstrated noninferiority to in-office visits in total patient satisfaction (mean difference 0.04 points; 95% CI, -2.75 to 2.83).
• Health care resource utilization was 14.0% lower in the virtual group, with similar rates of composite adverse events.

Conclusions:

• Virtual video postoperative visits are a safe and effective alternative to in-office visits for urogynecologic surgery follow-up.
• The findings support the expanded use of telehealth in postoperative care, potentially improving access and efficiency.
• Patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes are comparable between virtual and in-office postoperative care models.