Nathan R Handley1,2, Arianna Heyer3, Rachel E Granberg3, Adam F Binder1,2, Alexzandra T Gentsch2,4, Valerie P Csik1, Gregory Garber1, Brooke Worster1,2, Ana Maria Lopez1, Kristin L Rising2,4,5. 1. Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA. 2. Center for Connected Care, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA. 3. Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Philadelphia, PA. 4. Department of Emergency Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Philadelphia, PA. 5. College of Nursing, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid expansion of telehealth use in oncology, a specialty in which prior utilization was low in part because of barriers perceived by providers. Understanding the changing perceptions of medical oncology providers during the pandemic is critical for continued expansion and improvement of telehealth in cancer care. This study was designed to identify medical oncology providers' perceptions of telehealth video visits as influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with medical oncology providers from November 20, 2020, to January 27, 2021, at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University, a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in an urban, academic health system in Philadelphia, PA. We assessed provider perceptions of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on (1) provider-level comfort and willingness for telehealth, (2) provider-perceived patient comfort and willingness to engage in telehealth, and (3) continued barriers to successful telehealth use. RESULTS: Volunteer and convenience sampling resulted in the participation of 25 medical oncology providers, including 18 physicians and seven advanced practice providers, in semi-structured interviews. Of the 25 participants, 13 (52%) were female and 19 (76%) were White, with an average age of 48.5 years (standard deviation = 12.6). Respondents largely stated an increased comfort level and willingness for use of video visits. In addition, respondents perceived a positive change in patient comfort and willingness, mostly driven by convenience, accessibility, and reduced risk of COVID-19 exposure. However, several reported technologic issues and limited physical examination capability as remaining barriers to telehealth adoption. CONCLUSION: The rapid adoption of telehealth necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic has increased provider-level and provider-perceived patient comfort and willingness to engage in video visits for cancer care. As both providers and patients increasingly accept telehealth across many use cases, future work should focus on further addressing technology and physical examination barriers and ensuring continued reimbursement for telehealth as a routine part of covered care.
PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid expansion of telehealth use in oncology, a specialty in which prior utilization was low in part because of barriers perceived by providers. Understanding the changing perceptions of medical oncology providers during the pandemic is critical for continued expansion and improvement of telehealth in cancer care. This study was designed to identify medical oncology providers' perceptions of telehealth video visits as influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with medical oncology providers from November 20, 2020, to January 27, 2021, at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University, a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in an urban, academic health system in Philadelphia, PA. We assessed provider perceptions of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on (1) provider-level comfort and willingness for telehealth, (2) provider-perceived patient comfort and willingness to engage in telehealth, and (3) continued barriers to successful telehealth use. RESULTS: Volunteer and convenience sampling resulted in the participation of 25 medical oncology providers, including 18 physicians and seven advanced practice providers, in semi-structured interviews. Of the 25 participants, 13 (52%) were female and 19 (76%) were White, with an average age of 48.5 years (standard deviation = 12.6). Respondents largely stated an increased comfort level and willingness for use of video visits. In addition, respondents perceived a positive change in patient comfort and willingness, mostly driven by convenience, accessibility, and reduced risk of COVID-19 exposure. However, several reported technologic issues and limited physical examination capability as remaining barriers to telehealth adoption. CONCLUSION: The rapid adoption of telehealth necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic has increased provider-level and provider-perceived patient comfort and willingness to engage in video visits for cancer care. As both providers and patients increasingly accept telehealth across many use cases, future work should focus on further addressing technology and physical examination barriers and ensuring continued reimbursement for telehealth as a routine part of covered care.
Authors: Boyd R Viers; Deborah J Lightner; Marcelino E Rivera; Matthew K Tollefson; Stephen A Boorjian; R Jeffrey Karnes; R Houston Thompson; Daniel A O'Neil; Rachel L Hamilton; Matthew R Gardner; Mary Bundrick; Sarah M Jenkins; Sandhya Pruthi; Igor Frank; Matthew T Gettman Journal: Eur Urol Date: 2015-04-18 Impact factor: 20.096
Authors: Rachel E Granberg; Arianna Heyer; Kristin L Rising; Nathan R Handley; Alexzandra T Gentsch; Adam F Binder Journal: JCO Oncol Pract Date: 2021-07-21
Authors: Peter E Lonergan; Samuel L Washington Iii; Linda Branagan; Nathaniel Gleason; Raj S Pruthi; Peter R Carroll; Anobel Y Odisho Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2020-07-06 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Jakob N Kather; Eva C Winkler; Thomas Walle; Erkin Erdal; Leon Mühlsteffen; Hans Martin Singh; Editha Gnutzmann; Barbara Grün; Helene Hofmann; Alexandra Ivanova; Bruno Christian Köhler; Felix Korell; Athanasios Mavratzas; Andreas Mock; Constantin Pixberg; David Schult; Helen Starke; Niels Steinebrunner; Lena Woydack; Andreas Schneeweiss; Mareike Dietrich; Dirk Jäger; Johannes Krisam Journal: ESMO Open Date: 2020-11