Translating telemedicine to thoracic surgical oncological care: Performance analysis and patient perceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic Journal Article
| Authors: | Harrington, C. A.; Hsu, M.; Tan, K. S.; Medina, B.; Boerner, T.; Adusumilli, P. S.; Bains, M. S.; Bott, M. J.; Isbell, J. M.; Park, B. J.; Sihag, S.; Rusch, V. W.; Jones, D. R.; Rocco, G.; Molena, D. |
| Article Title: | Translating telemedicine to thoracic surgical oncological care: Performance analysis and patient perceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| Abstract: | Objective: The objective is to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected care for patients undergoing thoracic surgery for cancer. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine. Methods: Characteristics and outcomes of new patients seen between March 1 and June 30, 2019, and the same period in 2020 were compared. Patients who did not undergo surgery were excluded. Patients who had a telemedicine visit (new and established) in the 2020 period were asked to complete a survey. Results: In total, 624 new patients were seen in 2019 versus 299 in 2020 (52% reduction); 45% of patients (n=136) in 2020 were seen via telemedicine. There was no statistically significant difference in time to surgery, pathological upstaging, or postsurgical complications between 2019 and 2020. In total, 1085 patients (new and established) had a telemedicine visit in 2020; 239 (22%) completed the survey. A majority replied that telemedicine was equivalent to in-person care (77%), did not impair care quality (84%), resulted in less stress (69%) and shorter waits (86%), was more convenient (92%), saved money and commuting time (93%), and expanded who could attend visits (91%). Some patients regretted the loss of human interaction (71%). Most would opt for telemedicine after the pandemic (60%), although some would prefer in-person format for initial visits (55%) and visits with complex discussions (49%). Only 21% were uncomfortable with the telemedicine technology. Conclusions: Telemedicine enabled cancer care to continue during the COVID-19 pandemic without delays in surgery, cancer progression, or worsened postoperative morbidity and was generally well received. © 2023 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved. |
| Keywords: | adult; controlled study; aged; cancer surgery; major clinical study; clinical feature; postoperative period; cancer growth; cancer patient; outcome assessment; morbidity; oncology; postoperative complication; patient care; medical oncology; surgery; thorax surgery; thoracic surgical procedures; telemedicine; pandemic; physiological stress; humans; human; male; female; article; thoracic cancer; pandemics; coronavirus disease 2019; covid-19 |
| Journal Title: | Annals of Surgery |
| Volume: | 278 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| ISSN: | 0003-4932 |
| Publisher: | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |
| Date Published: | 2023-07-01 |
| Start Page: | e179 |
| End Page: | e183 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1097/sla.0000000000005525 |
| PUBMED: | 35786673 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PMCID: | PMC9810766 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | The MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) is acknowledged in the PDF -- Corresponding author is MSK author: Daniela Molena -- Source: Scopus |
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