Patients' Experiences of Telehealth-Based Nutrition Interventions for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in China: Qualitative
Hongyu Chen1,2, Yuanyuan Wang3, Fangzhi Xu2
1School of Nursing, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Background:
Telehealth-based nutrition care is increasingly used for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); yet, little is known about women's real-world experiences with PCOS-specific telenutrition in tertiary care settings. Understanding these experiences can guide patient-centered service design.
Objective:
We aim to explore women's lived experiences, barriers, and preferences regarding telehealth-based nutrition interventions for PCOS and to derive actionable design implications.
Methods:
We conducted a qualitative descriptive study at a tertiary clinical nutrition center in Beijing, China. Purposive sampling recruited 12 adult women with PCOS who had engaged in telenutrition for at least 3 months. We conducted one-on-one, semistructured video interviews via WeChat (Tencent Holdings Limited; approximately 45-60 minutes each) between February and March 2025; interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the reflexive thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke. Trustworthiness was enhanced through dual-coding, audit trails, reflexive memos, and member checking.
Results:
Four participant-framed themes captured a tension between high acceptability and unmet needs. (1) "It fits my life"-convenience and access: flexible scheduling, reduced travel, and greater privacy lowered practical and emotional barriers and fostered a sense of continuity. (2) "One size doesn't fit me"-frictions undermining engagement: standardized guidance did not reflect metabolic individuality (eg, insulin resistance or cycle-related symptoms) or daily routines; usability issues (glitches or nonintuitive logging) and limited communication bandwidth or timeliness impeded use. (3) "I'm not just a diet"-emotional and behavioral responses: timely, empathic feedback increased agency and accountability and supported adherence, whereas impersonal or delayed interactions left emotional needs unmet, highlighting the need for integrated mental health support. (4) "Make it smarter and more human"-participant recommendations: priorities included data-informed personalization (integration of laboratory and body-composition data and symptoms), integrated tracking and feedback loops, proactive check-ins with response-time standards, options for peer support, and cognitive behavioral therapy-informed microlessons.
Conclusions:
Telenutrition for PCOS is acceptable and convenient, but often underpersonalized and psychologically undersupported. Design implications include integrating individual metabolic data, embedding mental health screening and brief supports, instituting dietitian-initiated follow-ups, and improving usability and interactive feedback. Addressing the metabolic, reproductive, and psychological complexity of PCOS is essential for effective, scalable telehealth-based nutrition services.