Oncophone20 study: Patients' perception of telemedicine in the COVID‐19 pandemic during follow‐up visits for gynecological and breast cancers. Issue 3 (29th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Picardo, Elisa; Baù, Maria G.; Anatrone, Caterina; Mondino, Aurelia; Surace, Alessandra; Gallo, Federica; Danese, Saverio; Mitidieri, Marco
• Is Part Of: International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics. Volume 155:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 398
• Page End: 403
• Publication Date: 2021-07-29
• Subjects: breast cancer -- COVID‐19 -- follow‐up -- gynecology oncology -- telemedicine; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 618
• DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.13825
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7292

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To analyze oncological patients' perception of telemedicine during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 345 women, of whom 267 experienced breast cancer and 78 experienced a gynecological cancer, were enrolled. Specific questionnaires about their experiences and feelings about telemedicine in the COVID‐19 era were collected. Results: In the breast group, "enhanced care" showed moderate positive perception (mean 4.40) among less‐educated women that was slightly lower among better‐educated women (mean 4.14) with a significant difference ( P = 0.034). "satisfaction" had an opposite pattern: a mean of 3.99 for a lower level of education and 4.78 for a higher level of education, with a strong significant difference ( P < 0.001). "privacy and discomfort" approached neutrality for less‐educated women, while for higher‐educated women the lower mean of 2.93 indicted a more positive perception ( P = 0.007). In the pelvic group, younger women had a better perception towards telemedicine for "telemedicine as a substitution" (mean 3.68) compared to older women (mean 3.05). The privacy and discomfort subscale was in favor of better‐educated women (mean 2.57) compared to less‐educated women (mean 3.28; P = 0.042). Conclusion: Telemedicine was generally well accepted, not only among younger and higher‐educated women but also by women needing intensive care, in both cancer groups. Synopsis: Telemedicine represents a strategic tool for the control of COVID‐19 infection in patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals and was generally well accepted.