Department of Medical Oncology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India.
Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. B.R.A. Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, 110029, India.
Support Care Cancer. 2024 Nov 30;32(12):838. doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-09051-8.
Telemedicine use in healthcare is rising. However, infrastructural barriers may impede implementation in lower- and middle-income country settings. Patient perspectives regarding teleconsultation need to be explored. This study assesses the feasibility of teleconsultation among patients with cancer, patient satisfaction with its use, determinants of satisfaction, and its economic benefits.
A cross-sectional telephonic interview-based study was conducted between February and September 2021 in a tertiary care cancer center in India. Adult patients with cancer or their caregivers who had availed of teleconsultation during the 6 months preceding the interview date were included. Teleconsultation was administered through email and telephone conversation. The research team developed an interview guide to elicit demographic details, satisfaction with teleconsultation, and the underlying reasons. Cost savings through teleconsultation were also recorded. Factors predicting subject satisfaction were identified by multivariable logistic regression.
During the study period, 195 subjects, including 84 patients (43.1%) and 111 caregivers (56.9%), were interviewed. The median patient age at diagnosis was 31 years. In our study, 147 (75.4%) patients/caregivers reported satisfaction with teleconsultations. The benefits cited included better access and follow-up (n = 173, 88.7%) and saving time and money (n = 164, 84.1%). In multivariable analysis, a higher patient age (more than 30 years) was the only factor predictive of less satisfaction with teleconsultation. The median cost savings were not a predictor of satisfaction.
Teleconsultation is feasible and acceptable to most patients availing treatment in a tertiary oncology care setting in India. Patient and physician training for better communication may further improve the utility of this modality.
远程医疗在医疗保健中的应用正在增加。然而，基础设施障碍可能会阻碍中低收入国家的实施。需要探讨患者对远程咨询的看法。本研究评估了癌症患者远程咨询的可行性、患者对其使用的满意度、满意度的决定因素以及其经济效益。
这是一项横断面电话访谈的研究，于 2021 年 2 月至 9 月在印度的一家三级癌症治疗中心进行。入组标准为在访谈日期前的 6 个月内接受过远程咨询的成年癌症患者或其照顾者。通过电子邮件和电话交谈进行远程咨询。研究团队制定了一个访谈指南，以获取人口统计学细节、对远程咨询的满意度以及潜在原因。还记录了通过远程咨询节省的成本。通过多变量逻辑回归确定预测患者满意度的因素。
在研究期间，共对 195 名患者（84 名患者（43.1%）和 111 名照顾者（56.9%））进行了访谈。中位诊断时患者年龄为 31 岁。在我们的研究中，147 名（75.4%）患者/照顾者报告对远程咨询满意。患者提到的好处包括更好的获得途径和随访（n=173，88.7%）和节省时间和金钱（n=164，84.1%）。多变量分析显示，年龄较大（30 岁以上）是预测远程咨询满意度较低的唯一因素。节省的中位数成本不是满意度的预测因素。
远程咨询在印度的三级肿瘤治疗环境中对大多数接受治疗的患者来说是可行且可接受的。对患者和医生进行更好沟通的培训可能会进一步提高这种模式的实用性。
