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Urogynecology patient satisfaction with telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic in the first u.s. epicenter
Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery ; 27(10 SUPPL 1):S87, 2021.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1511124
ABSTRACT

Objective:

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the practice of medicine, requiring rapid reorganization and flexibility of healthcare delivery. Guidelines for urogynecologic patient care during the pandemic discuss deferring in-person visits, but little is known about patient satisfaction with telemedicine for a broad range of urogynecologic conditions.

Methods:

We performed a cross-sectional survey study following a retrospective review of all urogynecologic telemedicine visits from 3/1/2020 to 3/31/2021 at a NewYork City (NYC) tertiary care center inManhattan. Live, two-way synchronous video visits were performed unless there was an inadequate connection necessitating a telephone visit. Patients were then emailed a 19-question survey and electronic consent. The survey queried patient satisfaction with subcategories for scheduling, technology, provider interaction, fulfillment of personal needs, and overall satisfaction (Fig 1). For those who did not complete the survey electronically, phone interviews and consent were conducted. Responses were recorded using the Likert scale and grouped as either satisfied ('strongly agree' and 'agree') versus dissatisfied ('strongly disagree,' 'disagree,' and 'neither agree or disagree'). Visits were categorized by chief complaint, including urinary tract infection (UTI), prolapse, incontinence, overactive bladder/lower urinary tract symptoms/bladder pain syndrome, surgical counseling, vulvovaginal symptoms, or other (e.g., postpartum consult). Chi-square analysis was performed to assess for differences in satisfaction among different demographic groups as well as by visit type.

Results:

There were 256 telemedicine visits during the study period, and 88 patients completed the survey (34% unadjusted response rate). There were 77 video visits (87.5%) and 11 telephone visits (12.5%), with 65% of participants having prior experience with telemedicine. The average age of study participants was 55 years old (SD 18 yrs;24-84 yrs). The majority of patients were white (69%), lived within the five boroughs of NYC (81%), and had higher levels of education (72% with a bachelor's or professional degree). There was a trend showing Manhattan residents having the greatest number of visits (39%) and higher overall satisfaction scores (98%) compared to other boroughs (P < 0.05). Patients aged 60-79 had lower satisfaction scores compared with other age groups (87% vs 97% for 20-39 yrs, 98% for 40-59 yrs, and 100% for 80+ yrs;P < 0.05). There were no differences in overall satisfaction among racial groups (P = 0.599), though those with advanced educational degrees trended towards higher satisfaction (P < 0.05). The most common reason for visits was for UTIs (31%), with overall satisfaction higher for visits regarding urinary complaints compared to those for prolapse or vulvovaginal complaints (P < 0.05). Altogether, high satisfaction rates were noted among the study population for scheduling (99%), technology (90%), provider interaction (96%), fulfillment of personal needs (91%), and overall satisfaction (94%).

Conclusions:

We demonstrate high patient satisfaction for telemedicine visits in a tertiary urogynecology clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic for a variety of indications, with greater satisfaction observed for those visits which may not necessitate an in-person exam (e.g., UTI). Patients with a high education level and close proximity to the medical center trended towards higher utilization and satisfaction.

Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Language: English Journal: Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Language: English Journal: Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Year: 2021 Document Type: Article