Rural Residence Is Associated With Telephone Care Satisfaction Among Individuals With Inflammatory Bowel Disease:...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Health Services Research
• Telemedicine

Background:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) necessitates consistent medical oversight.
• Individuals in rural areas encounter significant obstacles in accessing specialized IBD care.
• Virtual care, specifically telephone care (TC), emerged as a potential solution to mitigate these access barriers, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient satisfaction with telephone care (TC) among individuals diagnosed with IBD in Saskatchewan, Canada.
• To identify factors influencing TC satisfaction in this population.
• To evaluate the potential of TC in improving access to specialized IBD care for rural residents.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted involving individuals with IBD in Saskatchewan.
• Data were collected via an online survey administered between December 2021 and April 2022.
• The survey incorporated demographic information and the Telephone Care Satisfaction Questionnaire (TCSQ), with satisfaction analyzed using ordinary least squares regressions.

Main Results:

• Eighty-seven individuals with IBD participated, with a majority having Crohn's disease (64.3%) and being female (61.6%).
• The overall mean satisfaction score for TC was high (5.70 out of 7.00).
• Individuals with IBD residing in rural Saskatchewan reported significantly higher TC satisfaction scores (0.42 points higher) compared to urban counterparts, after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with IBD in Saskatchewan demonstrate a high level of satisfaction with telephone care.
• Rural residence was positively associated with increased satisfaction with TC.
• The findings support the expanded use of TC to enhance access to specialized IBD care, particularly for those in remote or rural locations.