Introduction of Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Challenge for Now, an Opportunity for the Future

Sosnowski, Roman; Kamecki, Hubert; Joniau, Steven; Walz, Jochen; Klaassen, Zachary; Palou, Joan

doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2020.07.007

Cited by 18 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…There are concerns about telemedicine and how it may introduce additional stressors to already vulnerable patients, especially the elderly who may lack technical knowledge or have disabilities such as hearing loss. In these cases, it is up to the urologist to accommodate these patients accordingly and ensure through their best practices that patients are engaging in clearly communicated encounters that includes shared decision making [ 21 ]. Although there is still significant room for improvement, the successful transition to telemedicine during the pandemic demonstrated health care systems can change rapidly and effectively when there is consensus between physicians, health care administrators, and patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Telemedicine Usage Among Urologists During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study

Dubin¹,

Wyant²,

Balaji³

et al. 2020

J Med Internet Res

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Background Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, urology was one of the specialties with the lowest rates of telemedicine and videoconferencing use. Common barriers to the implementation of telemedicine included a lack of technological literacy, concerns with reimbursement, and resistance to changes in the workplace. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic declared in March 2020, the delivery of urological services globally has quickly shifted to telemedicine to account for the mass clinical, procedural, and operative cancellations, inadequate personal protective equipment, and shortage of personnel. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate current telemedicine usage by urologists, urologists’ perceptions on the necessity of in-person clinic appointments, the usability of telemedicine, and the current barriers to its implementation. Methods We conducted a global, cross-sectional, web-based survey to investigate the use of telemedicine before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Urologists’ perceived usability of telemedicine was assessed using a modified Delphi approach to create questions based on a modified version of the validated Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ). For the purposes of this study, telemedicine was defined as video calls only. Results A total of 620 urologists from 58 different countries and 6 continents participated in the survey. Prior to COVID-19, 15.8% (n=98) of urologists surveyed were using telemedicine in their clinical practices; during the pandemic, that proportion increased to 46.1% (n=283). Of the urologists without telemedicine experience, interest in telemedicine usage increased from 43.7% (n=139) to 80.8% (n=257) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among urologists that used telemedicine during the pandemic, 80.9% (n=244) were interested in continuing to use it in their practice. The three most commonly used platforms were Zoom, Doxy.me, and Epic, and the top three barriers to implementing telemedicine were patients’ lack of technological comprehension, patients’ lack of access to the required technology, and reimbursement concerns. Conclusions This is the first study to quantify the use, usability, and pervading interest in telemedicine among urologists during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the face of this pandemic, urologists’ usage of telemedicine nearly tripled, demonstrating their ability to adopt and adapt telemedicine into their practices, but barriers involving the technology itself are still preventing many from utilizing it despite increasing interest.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Telemedicine Usage Among Urologists During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study

Dubin¹,

Wyant²,

Balaji³

et al. 2020

J Med Internet Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The factors underlying this aversion could be the rapid, unprepared telemedicine introduction at an extremely broad scale, with a general indication of the avoidance of face-to-face visits and low to no selection of patients, who could safely be treated using this modality [ 9 ]. Generally, previous experiences with telemedicine in urology were very promising and truly beneficial in selected patients [ 10 , 11 ]. Possibly, a slower, more structured introduction with the pre-training of both, physicians and patients, as implemented in other countries, could change the perception of Polish urologists [ 12 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Polish urologists? Results from a national survey

Rajwa

Przydacz

Zapała

et al. 2020

Cent european J Urol

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Introduction Poland was initially less affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, however, severe restrictions, and health care restructuration have impacted all areas of medicine, including urology. Therefore, we aimed, via an online survey, to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Polish urologists and urology residents. Material and methods Between May 15 and June 6, 2020, 229 (28.63% response rate) urologists and urology residents responded to a 28-question online survey. The questionnaire analyzed basic demographic and professional characteristics, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physicians' everyday work, mental status as well as private life. We further compared the differences between the selected subgroups. Results Nearly all (96.5%) responders claimed that the pandemic had a moderate to high impact on their everyday clinical practice with the majority of the residents (62.0%) believing that the COVID-19 pandemic will harm their training. Most responders (86.9%) reported over 25% declines in outpatient clinic consultations and 55.9% claimed that their income dropped over 25%. Only 38.9% wanted telemedicine to permanently replace some of the consultations after the pandemic, with residents being significantly more positive about this modality (51.4% vs. 33.1%; p = 0.01). Interestingly, 79.9% noticed the negative psychological effect of the pandemic on their colleagues, and 57.6% felt increased anxiety, sadness, or stress. Conclusions This study revealed the complaints and needs of Polish urologists and urology residents after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a significantly negative impact on their work, mental health, and private life.

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“…The latter, particularly when elderly, may be unable to effectively use electronic devices, making an electronic consultation hard to perform. As suggested by Sosnowski et al [ 21 ], the urologist can play an essential role in offering the patient the best option, choosing the most appropriate communication tool, and considering all the variables and the patient’s needs and preferences. The role of caregivers should also be maximized and integrated inside this context since they can be helpful in the communication process.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implementing telemedicine for the management of benign urologic conditions: a single centre experience in Italy

et al. 2021

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Introduction of Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Challenge for Now, an Opportunity for the Future

Cited by 18 publications

References 6 publications

Telemedicine Usage Among Urologists During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study

Telemedicine Usage Among Urologists During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Polish urologists? Results from a national survey

Implementing telemedicine for the management of benign urologic conditions: a single centre experience in Italy

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