Patient Preferences for Virtual Versus In-Person Care in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Telemedicine adoption in gastroenterology has accelerated rapidly in recent years. Virtual interventions offer disease activity control comparable to standard in-person care. However, factors determining patient satisfaction and personal perceptions of virtual clinics remain poorly explored. This study identifies the clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic predictors of clinic format preference among patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

We conducted a cross-sectional observational study at King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study included adult patients diagnosed with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Authors collected demographic parameters, clinical covariates, and patient experience ratings using a structured questionnaire. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was employed to isolate independent predictors of virtual clinic preference.

The cohort comprised 1,005 patients. Overall, 55.6% preferred in-person appointments and 44.4% preferred virtual clinics. Prior telehealth exposure served as the strongest predictor for future virtual care (odds ratio [OR] = 4.10; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.90, 5.82). Patients utilizing subcutaneous injections (OR = 2.02) or oral medications (OR = 1.81) demonstrated significantly higher odds of selecting virtual care. Conversely, an ulcerative colitis diagnosis predicted a preference for physical visits (OR = 0.63). Prioritizing ease of access (OR = 1.47) and the use of technology (OR = 2.14) underpinned virtual choices. Strict privacy concerns (OR = 0.57) and inadequate physician communication (OR = 0.05) deterred patients from the remote clinic.

Prior telehealth experience and the use of home-based therapies drive virtual clinic adoption. Disease phenotype, reliance on intravenous treatments, and privacy concerns may necessitate accessible in-person care. Health care systems must abandon uniform digital strategies and implement tailored, hybrid care models to optimize resource allocation.