Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.
Head Neck. 2021 Jun;43(6):1872-1880. doi: 10.1002/hed.26659. Epub 2021 Mar 4.
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has led to increased telemedicine visits. This study examines current preferences and barriers for telemedicine among patients with head and neck cancer.
Single institution retrospective analysis of 64 patients scheduling visits with the head and neck surgical oncology clinic at a tertiary academic medical center. Data were collected detailing patient preferences and barriers regarding telemedicine appointments. Patients electing to participate in telemedicine were compared to those preferring in-person appointments.
Most patients (68%) were not interested in telemedicine. Preference for in-person examination was the most common reason for rejecting telemedicine, followed by discomfort with or limited access to technology. Patients elected telemedicine visits to avoid infection and for convenience.
When given a choice, patients with head and neck cancer preferred in-person visits over telemedicine. Although telemedicine may improve health care access, patient preferences, technology-related barriers, and limitations regarding cancer surveillance must be addressed moving forward.
2019 年冠状病毒病大流行导致远程医疗访问量增加。本研究调查了头颈部癌症患者对远程医疗的当前偏好和障碍。
对一家三级学术医疗中心的头颈部外科肿瘤诊所进行的单机构回顾性分析，共 64 名患者预约就诊。收集的数据详细说明了患者对远程医疗预约的偏好和障碍。选择远程医疗的患者与选择面对面就诊的患者进行了比较。
大多数患者（68%）对远程医疗不感兴趣。拒绝远程医疗的最常见原因是偏好亲自检查，其次是对技术的不适或有限的访问。患者选择远程医疗就诊是为了避免感染和方便。
当有选择时，头颈部癌症患者更喜欢面对面就诊而不是远程医疗。尽管远程医疗可能会改善医疗保健的可及性，但必须解决患者偏好、与技术相关的障碍以及癌症监测方面的局限性。
