Open AccessPatient Perception of Telehealth Services for Breast and Gynecologic Oncology Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Single Center Survey-based Study
Author(s) -
Brittney S. Zimmerman,
Danielle Seidman,
Natalie Berger,
Krystal Pauline Cascetta,
Michelle D. Nezolosky,
Kara Trlica,
Alisa Ryncarz,
Caitlin Keeton,
Erin Moshier,
Amy Tiersten
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of breast cancer/journal of breast cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2092-9900
pISSN - 1738-6756
DOI - 10.4048/jbc.2020.23.e56
Subject(s) - telehealth , medicine , pandemic , telemedicine , covid-19 , family medicine , breast cancer , health care , patient satisfaction , medical emergency , nursing , cancer , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economics , economic growth
Prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, telehealth was rarely utilized for oncologic care in metropolitan areas. Our large New York City based outpatient breast/gynecologic cancer clinic administered an 18-question survey to patients from March to June 2020, to assess the perceptions of the utility of telehealth medicine. Of the 622 patients, 215 (35%) completed the survey, and of the 215 respondents, 74 (35%) had participated in a telehealth visit. We evaluated the use of telehealth services using the validated Service User Technology Acceptability Questionnaire. Sixty-eight patients (92%) reported that telehealth services saved them time, 54 (73%) reported telehealth increased access to care, and 58 (82%) reported telehealth improved their health. Overall, 67 (92%) of patients expressed satisfaction with the use of telehealth services for oncologic care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth services should be carefully adopted as an addition to in-person clinical care of patients with cancer.