Patient perspectives and experiences of the rapid implementation of digital consultations during COVID-19 — a qualitative study among women with gynecological cancer

Christiansen, Mille Guldager; Pappot, Helle; Pedersen, Charlotte; Jarden, Mary; Mirza, Mansoor Raza; Piil, Karin

doi:10.1007/s00520-021-06651-6

Cited by 13 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 39 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Additionally, it is important that healthcare professionals recognize that relatives’ participation in consultations is important to patients and, therefore, should be encouraged for telephone consultations. Patients in the present study considered telephone consultations impersonal, which is consistent with other research [ 8 , 17 ]. During telephone consultations, patients were less likely to ask questions and were highly dependent on the physician’s communicative skills, as the ability to use eye contact, body language, physical examination, and images was unavailable.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Results from qualitative studies indicate that some patients with cancer experienced telephone consultation as rushed and found it difficult to discuss their treatment issues and that telephone consultations required patients to be more persistent in order to obtain necessary information [ 15 , 16 ]. Digital consultations were by some patients perceived as impersonal, relationships established prior to the teleconsultation, supported patients to engage with healthcare professionals during teleconsultations, and patients often preferred in-person consultations [ 17 – 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Patients’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the change to telephone consultations in cancer care

Bødtcher

Lindblad

Sørensen

et al. 2022

Support Care Cancer

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose During the COVID-19 pandemic, teleconsultations have increasingly been used to reduce physical contact and thus risk of infection. This study investigated how patients with cancer experienced the COVID-19 pandemic and how they perceived the change from in-person consultations to telephone consultations in an oncology outpatient clinic. The aim was to provide insights that could optimize the future use of teleconsultations in cancer care. Methods This qualitative study included 15 patients with colorectal, breast, gynecological, lung, or prostate cancer treated at the outpatient clinic at the Department of Clinical Oncology and Palliative Care, Zealand University Hospital, Denmark in June or July 2020. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews and analyzed by thematic analysis. Results Patients with cancer experienced social, psychological, and organizational consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic related to their cancer care. Not all patients were comfortable with telephone consultations. Six themes were identified: (1) double burden as a consequence of simultaneous cancer and the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) parameters for patient satisfaction with telephone consultations, (3) the importance of relatives attending consultations, (4) loss of information and nuances during telephone consultations, (5) the impact of physicians’ language and communicative skills during telephone consultations, and (6) patients’ suggestions for future telephone consultations. Conclusion Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that hospitals offering teleconsultations involve patients’ preferences, consider for which patients and consultations the solution is suitable, which technology to use, how to prepare patients and relatives, and how to provide physicians with the necessary communicative skills.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patients’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the change to telephone consultations in cancer care

Bødtcher

Lindblad

Sørensen

et al. 2022

Support Care Cancer

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“… 18 This is likely due to the ease and convenience of delivering simple test results, such as blood tests, for doctors and patients. 9 , 19 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…18 This is likely due to the ease and convenience of delivering simple test results, such as blood tests, for doctors and patients. 9,19 Clinicians make the decision about whether to use telephone or video…”

Section: Video Provides Non-verbal Communication and Visual Examinationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer care and management during COVID-19: A comparison of in-person, video and telephone consultations

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In Australia, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the exponential growth in the delivery of telehealth services. Medicare data indicates that the majority of telehealth consultations have used the telephone, despite the known benefits of using video. The aim of this study was to understand the perceived quality and effectiveness of in-person, telephone and videoconsultations for cancer care. Data was collected via online surveys with consumers ( n = 1162) and health professionals ( n = 59), followed by semi-structured interviews with telehealth experienced health professionals ( n = 22) and consumers ( n = 18). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and significance was tested using the chi-square test. A framework analysis and thematic analysis were used for qualitative data. Results indicate telehealth is suitable for use across the cancer care pathway. However, consumers and health professionals perceived videoconsultations facilitated visual communication and improved patients’ quality of care. The telephone was appropriate for short transactional consultations such as repeat prescriptions. Consumers were rarely given the choice of consultation modality. The choice of modality depended on a range of factors such as the type of consultation and stage of cancer care. Hybrid models of care utilising in-person, video and telephone should be developed and requires further guidance to promote the adoption of telehealth in cancer care.

show abstract

“…We consider that because of the underlying suppression of immune system and poor general condition heightening the risk for susceptibility to COVID-19 and relative complications, cancer patients ought to be paid more attention and supports ( 21 – 24 ). Another concern is that palliative care practice to address certain circumstances of cancer patients remains inadequate and immature, such as in the particular case of the severe COVID-19 pandemic ( 25 ). Despite the fact that individuals with cancer on active palliative healthcare are more likely to require frequent hospital visits or meeting with professionals, the isolation of interpersonal contact and restrictions on patient access to hospitals, in order to reduce the risk of spreading SARS-CoV-2, bring great difficulties to the practice and promotion of palliative care ( 26 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on palliative care practice: A survey of clinical oncologists

Wang

Huang

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundPalliative care is an essential intervention to improve the quality of life for patients with cancer, whereas the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic poses a challenge to supportive and palliative care providers. This survey aims to explore the current status of palliative care practice for cancer and the influence of COVID-19, from the perspective of oncologists.MethodsThe semi-structure electronic questionnaire was designed. Mixed-mode surveys including electronic questionnaires, face-to-face interactions, and telephone interviews were adopted according to the willingness of respondents. Face-to-face and telephone interviews were based on same questions in the online questionnaire. Participants working in cancer-related departments with frontline palliative care experience during the COVID-19 outbreak were included. Surveys covered experiences and perspectives regarding the impact of COVID-19 on clinical work, personal lives, and palliative care practice. Suggestions on coping strategies were further proposed and qualitatively analyzed.ResultsThirty-seven oncologists participated in this study from September 2021 to January 2022. The majority of them believed COVID-19 significantly and negatively affected their clinical work routines (75.7%), personal daily lives (67.6%), and palliative care practice (64.9%). Most specialists considered that currently the palliative care system remained underdeveloped (73.0%), and other factors besides COVID-19 were associated with this situation (78.4%). Seventeen participants further made suggestions on how to promote palliative care during COVID-19, and three themes emerged through the qualitative analysis: (1) Remote or online service (88.2%); (2) Publicity, education, or shared decision-making for patients (29.4%); (3) Guidelines, training, or programs for care providers (23.6%).ConclusionOncologists consider that COVID-19 has an adverse impact on their palliative care practice and daily routine. In addition to COVID-19, other factors affecting palliative care should not be neglected. Corresponding measures are warranted to encourage palliative care practice during COVID-19.

show abstract

Patient perspectives and experiences of the rapid implementation of digital consultations during COVID-19 — a qualitative study among women with gynecological cancer

Cited by 13 publications

References 39 publications

Patients’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the change to telephone consultations in cancer care

Patients’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the change to telephone consultations in cancer care

Cancer care and management during COVID-19: A comparison of in-person, video and telephone consultations

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on palliative care practice: A survey of clinical oncologists

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About