Department of Medical Oncology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin, 7, Ireland.
Department of Medical Oncology, Mater Private Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin, 7, Ireland.
Ir J Med Sci. 2021 Nov;190(4):1295-1301. doi: 10.1007/s11845-020-02489-9. Epub 2021 Jan 15.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in radical changes in the delivery of healthcare worldwide. Our oncology service (at an Irish national cancer centre) rapidly transitioned to the use of telemedicine or virtual clinics (VC) to minimise potential risk of exposure to COVID-19 amongst an immunosuppressed, high-risk population. Our study aimed to evaluate the use of VC in this setting.
An 18-point questionnaire was designed to investigate the patient experience of VC during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland and compliance with guidelines developed in Ireland to conduct VC and the role of VC in the future. Questionnaires were distributed following the receipt of verbal consent from patients during the VC. Descriptive statistics were utilised for data analysis using SPSS®.
One hundred and four patients returned completed surveys (n = 104/164, 63% response rate). Overall satisfaction levels were high with most patients (n = 58/100, 58%; no answer provided (NAP), n = 4) equally satisfied or nearly equally satisfied with VC in comparison to a usual clinic encounter. The majority of patients felt that there should be a role for VC in the future (n = 84/102, 82%; NAP, n = 2). The majority of patients (n = 61/99, 61%; NAP, n = 5) were very relieved to avoid a hospital visit due to perceived risk of potential exposure to COVID-19.
The majority of oncology patients were satisfied with a VC encounter. VC may have a role in the future of medical care in Ireland post the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 大流行导致全球医疗保健方式发生了重大变化。我们的肿瘤学服务（在爱尔兰国家癌症中心）迅速转向使用远程医疗或虚拟诊所（VC），以最大程度地降低免疫抑制、高危人群暴露于 COVID-19 的潜在风险。我们的研究旨在评估这种情况下 VC 的使用情况。
设计了一个 18 点的问卷，旨在调查爱尔兰 COVID-19 大流行期间 VC 的患者体验以及遵守爱尔兰制定的 VC 指南的情况，以及 VC 在未来的作用。在 VC 期间收到患者口头同意后，分发问卷。使用 SPSS®进行数据分析，采用描述性统计。
104 名患者返回了完整的调查问卷（n = 104/164，63%的回复率）。大多数患者的总体满意度很高，与常规就诊相比，大多数患者（n = 58/100，58%；未回答（NAP），n = 4）对 VC 同样满意或几乎同样满意。大多数患者认为 VC 在未来应该发挥作用（n = 84/102，82%；NAP，n = 2）。大多数患者（n = 61/99，61%；NAP，n = 5）非常庆幸因担心潜在 COVID-19 暴露而避免了医院就诊。
大多数肿瘤患者对 VC 就诊感到满意。VC 在 COVID-19 大流行后，可能在爱尔兰医疗保健的未来发挥作用。
