ABSTRACT
Introduction: Lockdown during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic forced an adaptation of health care delivery system. Teleconsultation (TC) is a measure that allows the continuity of access to medical care, minimizing the risk of infection. This study aims to analyse the impact of TC in Gastroenterology patients. Aims & Methods: Patients followed in the Gastroenterology service of Braga Hospital by TC between March and November 2020 were invited to answer a questionnaire. This was partially adapted from the modified Telemedicine Satisfaction Questionnaire (TSQm), including as well parameters with impact on daily life. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the participants in the study were analysed. Results: One hundred and twenty patients participated, 60 with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD group) and 60 with liver cirrhosis (LC group). Regarding IBD group, 55% were female, with a mean age of 40.7 years. The most frequent level of education was college degree (40.0%), with the majority being employed (78.3%). In the LC group, 66.7% of the patients were male, with an average age of 64.2 years. Of these 81.7% had the basic level of education and 66.7% were retired. The average total TSQm score was 38.23±6.35 in the IBD group and 37.55±6.05 in the LC group, with 68.3% of the cases considering TC as a good experience. Significant impact on absenteeism was observed only in the IBD group, with at least 1 work period saved in 63.3% of the cases. In both groups, no differences were observed in the rate of flares/decompensations, hospitalizations or visits to the emergency department, between the study period of 2020 and the homologous period in 2019. Conclusion: TC is an effective method for follow-up of chronically ill patients, resulting in a high degree of user satisfaction and with an important impact on daily life. It has proven to be clinically safe, without negative consequences on the control of the underlying disease.