PATIENTS' EXPERIENCES WITH VIRTUAL OUTPATIENT PALLIATIVE CARE VISITS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

ABSTRACT

Introduction Early palliative care, delivered in oncology palliative care clinics (OPCCs) typically involves in-person visits, but virtual care visits were adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to explore patients' experiences of virtual visits to an OPCC at a tertiary cancer centre in Toronto, Canada during the pandemic. Methods One-on-one telephone interviews were conducted with patients who had a) at least one in-person visit to the OPCC prior to the pandemic, with subsequent virtual follow-up, or b) virtual visits only. Purposive sampling was used to ensure representation based on sex, age, distance from the cancer centre, and mode of virtual visits (telephone vs. video). Interviews were recorded and professionally transcribed;thematic analysis was used. Results Twenty-six patients were interviewed (17 had an in-person visit, 9 virtual only). Patients reported overall satisfaction with virtual care, appreciating that it reduced care disruption during the pandemic. An initial in-person visit was felt to assist with rapport-building with the team. Many participants wished to continue with virtual care beyond the pandemic, especially during periods of relative health stability. At transition points in care, or when advance care planning discussions were anticipated, inperson visits were preferred. Conclusions Virtual visits to the OPCC during the COVID-19 pandemic were feasible and appreciated by patients. The role of virtual care for select scenarios beyond the pandemic should be further explored.