Perspectives on Telemedicine Visits Reported by Patients With Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Services Research
• Digital Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated telemedicine adoption in cancer care.
• Patient satisfaction and experiences with telemedicine in oncology remain under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient satisfaction with telemedicine visits at a comprehensive cancer center.
• To understand patient preferences and barriers related to telemedicine in cancer care.

Main Methods:

• A survey study was conducted with cancer patients at a US cancer center from 2020 to 2023.
• Patients completed online surveys post-telemedicine appointment, comparing experiences to in-person visits.
• Data analysis included structured and free-text responses, with multivariable analysis of barriers and demographic variations.

Main Results:

• Over 27,000 patients completed surveys, with 73.8% rating telemedicine visits as good as or better than in-person visits.
• 18.9% of patients found telemedicine visits superior to in-person care, a proportion that increased slightly from 2020 to 2023.
• While structured surveys showed positive views, free-text analysis revealed technological challenges impacting patient experience.

Conclusions:

• A significant majority of cancer patients are satisfied with telemedicine, with consistent satisfaction levels observed post-pandemic.
• Findings suggest integrating telemedicine into routine cancer care is feasible and beneficial.
• Addressing technological barriers and improving ease of use are crucial for optimizing telemedicine in oncology.