An Investigation into the Preferences of Patients Regarding the Use of Telemedicine Stemming from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract: PB2671
Abstract Type: Publication Only
Session Title: Quality of Life and Palliative Care
Background
Telemedicine has become increasingly crucial for remote healthcare delivery, with telephone consultation (TC) and video consultation (VC) being two important modalities. However, there is limited knowledge about the preferences and experiences of patients with lymphoma or CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia). Understanding patient preferences and experiences is vital for successfully integrating telemedicine into clinical practice beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aims
This study aimed to investigate patient preferences and experiences for TC and VC among patients with lymphoma and CLL, focusing on regional and age differences.
Methods
The 2022 Lymphoma Coalition (LC) Global Patient Survey (GPS) was completed by 8,637 participants from 84 countries, including 7,113 patients and 1,524 caregivers. The analysis for this study considered responses from patients only.
- Questions regarding the use of telemedicine were stratified across core demographics and tabulated.
- The likelihood chi-square statistic was used to test for significant differences across strata that displayed subjectively large differences.
- All analyses were computed with JMP Pro v17.
Results
There is a mixed response among patients with lymphoma or CLL regarding the continued use of TC or VC after the pandemic:
- 27.5% of patients definitely agreed they would like to continue using TC/VC.
- 42.4% disagreed.
- 29.5% were neutral.
Age Differences
- Younger age groups (18–34) are more likely to agree that they want to continue using TC/VC.
- Older age groups (55+) are less likely to agree (p<0.0001).
- When looking at satisfaction with TC/VC:
- 26.7% are very satisfied.
- 39.6% are dissatisfied.
- 33.6% are neutral.
Regional Differences
- Younger groups (18–34) are more satisfied than older groups (55+) (p<0.0001).
- Regional data also showed variation, with only 20% of respondents in Europe indicating a desire to continue using TC/VC after the pandemic (p<0.0001).
Summary and Conclusion
This study highlights the importance of considering patient preferences and experiences with TC and VC in healthcare delivery, particularly for patients with lymphoma or CLL.
- General Findings: In-person visits remain preferred overall, but there is significant variation across age and regional groups. Younger patients are more open to continuing TC/VC, while older patients tend to prefer in-person visits.
- Regional Variation: The highest rates of willingness to continue TC/VC were seen in the Asia-Pacific region, while Europe reported the lowest.
- Implication for Care Models: A hybrid system of assessment and follow-up may be best suited for patients with lymphoma, balancing both in-person and remote care.
The integration of TC and VC into routine care will require monitoring of patient preferences with a reflexive system that can adapt to evolving needs and expectations.