Brooke M Huuskes1, Nicole Scholes-Robertson2,3, Chandana Guha2,3, Amanda Baumgart2,3, Germaine Wong2,3,4, John Kanellis5,6, Steve Chadban7, Katherine A Barraclough8, Andrea K Viecelli8, Carmel M Hawley8,9, Peter G Kerr5,6, P Toby Coates10,11, Noa Amir2,3, Allison Tong2,3. 1. Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia. 2. Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 3. Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia. 4. Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 5. Department of Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. 6. Department of Nephrology, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. 7. Department of Renal Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 8. Department of Nephrology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. 9. Australiasian Kidney Trials Network, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia. 10. School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 11. Centre Northern Adelaide Renal Transplantation Service, Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australia, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the delivery of health services. Telehealth allows delivery of care without in-person contacts and minimizes the risk of vial transmission. We aimed to describe the perspectives of kidney transplant recipients on the benefits, challenges and risks of telehealth. METHODS: We conducted five online focus groups with 34 kidney transplant recipients who had experienced a telehealth appointment. Transcripts were thematically analyzed. RESULTS: We identified five themes: minimizing burden (convenient and easy, efficiency of appointments, reducing exposure to risk, limiting work disruptions, alleviating financial burden); attuning to individual context (depending on stability of health, respect patient choice of care, ensuring a conducive environment); protecting personal connection and trust (requires established rapport with clinicians, hampering honest conversations, diminished attentiveness without incidental interactions, reassurance of follow up, missed opportunity to share lived experience); empowerment and readiness (increased responsibility for self-management, confidence in physical assessment, mental preparedness, forced independence); navigating technical challenges (interrupted communication, new and daunting technologies, cognisant of patient digital literacy). CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth is convenient and minimizes time, financial and overall treatment burden. Telehealth should ideally be available after the pandemic, be provided by a trusted nephrologist and supported with resources to help patients prepare for appointments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the delivery of health services. Telehealth allows delivery of care without in-person contacts and minimizes the risk of vial transmission. We aimed to describe the perspectives of kidney transplant recipients on the benefits, challenges and risks of telehealth. METHODS: We conducted five online focus groups with 34 kidney transplant recipients who had experienced a telehealth appointment. Transcripts were thematically analyzed. RESULTS: We identified five themes: minimizing burden (convenient and easy, efficiency of appointments, reducing exposure to risk, limiting work disruptions, alleviating financial burden); attuning to individual context (depending on stability of health, respect patient choice of care, ensuring a conducive environment); protecting personal connection and trust (requires established rapport with clinicians, hampering honest conversations, diminished attentiveness without incidental interactions, reassurance of follow up, missed opportunity to share lived experience); empowerment and readiness (increased responsibility for self-management, confidence in physical assessment, mental preparedness, forced independence); navigating technical challenges (interrupted communication, new and daunting technologies, cognisant of patient digital literacy). CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth is convenient and minimizes time, financial and overall treatment burden. Telehealth should ideally be available after the pandemic, be provided by a trusted nephrologist and supported with resources to help patients prepare for appointments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Authors: Victoria White; Alice Bastable; Ilana Solo; Seleena Sherwell; Sangeetha Thomas; Rob Blum; Javier Torres; Natalie Maxwell-Davis; Kathy Alexander; Amanda Piper Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2022-05-03 Impact factor: 3.359