Patient perspectives of telehealth for fertility care: a national survey.

PURPOSE

To evaluate patient satisfaction using telehealth for fertility care.

METHODS

Cross-sectional survey using the validated telehealth usability questionnaire (TUQ) distributed nationally via fertility advocacy groups of fertility patients aged ≥ 18 years with self-reported use of telehealth for care. Patient satisfaction of telehealth for fertility care as determined by the TUQ questionnaire. The survey also included questions about telehealth related to usefulness, ease of use, effectiveness, reliability, and the option for patients to add open-ended comments related to their experiences using telehealth for fertility care.

RESULTS

A total of 81 fertility patients completed the survey. Patients reported high rates of satisfaction (81.4%) with telehealth in areas of usefulness, ease of use, effectiveness, reliability, and satisfaction. However, many patients (60.5%) expressed a preference for in-person visits for their initial visit while the acceptability of telehealth increased for follow-up visits. Negative themes from respondent comments address that telehealth visits felt more impersonal and rushed.

CONCLUSION

Fertility patients reported high satisfaction using telehealth for care. Patients still preferred in-person visits for initial consultations. For follow-up visits, most respondents favored telehealth or had no preference. Incorporation of telehealth in fertility practices should continue though it may be helpful for patients to be given options for visit types.