Abstract 1846P
Background
Virtual clinics were introduced to our practice in March 2020. Many viewed this as a favourable change, but some staff and patients were dissatisfied. We aimed to assess outcomes from virtual clinics, and to assess patient and staff views on them and on their barriers to implementation.
Methods
We prospectively assessed outcomes from the virtual consultations of 53 patients scheduled to attend an oncology outpatient appointment in a cancer centre (April-July 2020). 6 months later, 15 of these took part in a telephone survey. 32 oncologists completed an online survey.
Results
Median time to review patients was 18 mins. (range 4 – 141), time spent on non-contactable patients (n=6) was 15 mins/patient. In 14 cases, visits took under 10 mins. (33%). 9 took 30+ mins. (20%). Median age was 61 (range 22-84). Patients had been attending the service for a median of 26.5 months (range 2-170), and were on surveillance following systemic anti-cancer therapy (n=36, 68%), or were receiving hormonal therapy (n=16, 30%). For 36%, a clinical exam was an essential part of surveillance. Necessary bloods were not done in 80% (n=20). Different plans may have been agreed with 2 patients (4%) had they attended in-person. In patients surveyed, mean Short Assessment of Patient Satisfaction score was 27.8. 69% preferred the virtual clinic. All want more virtual followups, but 73% would not want ‘bad news’ this way. 67% (n=10) and 47% (n=7) had time or financial savings. 87% of surveyed doctors felt virtual clinics were faster than in-person equivalents, in 16% by 10+ mins/patient. 42% (n=13) arranged earlier followup. 8 (25%) felt patients often had not expected a call. Low satisfaction was associated with difficulty with patient assessment (81%, X 2 (1, N=31)=15.7, p<0.001) or communication (63%, X 2 (1, N=31)=4.1, p=0.04), resource limitation (48%, X 2 (1, N=31)=8.5, p=0.004), or poor access to results of investigations (40%, X 2 (1, N=23)=5.3, p=0.02). 33% feel their virtual clinic quality is as good as in-person, 68% that they communicate well. 71% felt patients should have no more than 2 consecutive virtual visits.
Conclusions
While patient satisfaction was high, barriers exist, and must be addressed if virtual clinics are to play a long-term role in oncology.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.