PATIENT SATISFACTION WITH TELECONSULTATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a paradigm shift in medicine, driving physicians to rapidly adopt remote practices to combat the spread of the virus. Radiation oncologists are no exception, but many fear that the doctor-patient relationship will suffer from such practices. We will present the results of a survey investigating the patients' level of satisfaction with teleconsultations in a radiation oncology setting. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six patients were surveyed between June 1 and July 10, 2020. Fourteen (25%) had their consultations performed in person and 42 (75%) remotely, of which only a single patient had a video consultation. The remainder of patients had their consultations carried out telephonically. The survey was administered to patients during their treatment planning visit, and participation was on a voluntary basis. Results: Ninety-seven percent of the respondents were either satisfied (37%) or very satisfied (60%) with their teleconsultations. Thirty-two percent would have preferred to meet their physicians in person. The number one reason for preferring remote consultations over in-person consultations was to prevent exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (75%);however, 55% of patients also stated travel difficulties as a reason for favouring teleconsultations. If this service were to be offered under normal circumstances, 51% of patients would still prefer teleconsultations. We did not identify any differences in satisfaction between remote and in-person consultations. Conclusions: Overall, patient satisfaction of teleconsultations was high. Half of the respondents would prefer this approach to oncological care even after the pandemic is over to limit traveling. These results should reassure radiation oncologists that the care they provide remotely is appreciated by patients.