Impact of Telemedicine Use by Oncology Physicians on the Patient and Informal Caregiver Experience of Receiving Care: Protocol for a Scoping Review in the Context of COVID-19

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telemedicine by oncology physicians in Manitoba, Canada, has increased to limit the risk of exposure to the virus for both patients and health care providers. It is not clear how telemedicine impacts the information needs of patients or the experience of receiving cancer care. Objective: The objective of this study is to describe how the use of telemedicine impacts the information needs and experience of patients with cancer and their informal caregivers (ie, family and friends) and identify directions for future research. Methods: This review will include all studies addressing telemedicine in the cancer context including those using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. This scoping review will be conducted using the methodology described by the Joanna Briggs Institute. In collaboration with a librarian scientist specializing in health sciences, a comprehensive search will be undertaken to identify and retrieve relevant reports published in English from 1990 to the present. Databases searched will include MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO. Data will be extracted by two independent reviewers, synthesized, and reported in a summary table and in a narrative format describing what has been reported regarding the impact of telemedicine by physicians in oncology on the experience of patients and their informal caregivers and their receipt of information. Results: The results from this scoping review are expected to be available by late spring 2021. Conclusions: The results from this scoping review will be useful for informing practice as well as directing future research, both in the context of COVID-19 and beyond.

Perceptions of telehealth in real‐world oncological care: An exploration of matched patient‐ and clinician‐reported acceptability data from an Australian cancer centre

“…The existing evidence around telehealth in oncological care during the pandemic, primarily limited to scoping studies including clinical commentaries and specific populations describing their perceptions of telehealth via service-specific surveys, 8 Could select more than one response.…”

“…Accordingly, there has been increasing clinical commentary on the opportunities to integrate telehealth into routine cancer practice and a particular focus on the practical considerations for effective telehealth delivery into the future 7 . Yet, an empirical understanding of the clinical circumstances and patient populations which may be most appropriate for telehealth models remains scant 8–10 . As such, the need to establish evidence‐based, patient‐centred models has been highlighted by cancer services, 6 and there is a clear imperative for both patient‐ and clinician‐reported data to underpin these future models of teleoncology.…”

Telehealth in outpatient delivery of palliative care: a prospective survey evaluation by patients and clinicians

“…This has been accompanied by commentary suggesting opportunities to integrate telehealth into routine practice including into the future 7 . However, an empirical understanding of the clinical circumstances and patient populations that may be most appropriate for telehealth models remains scant 8–10 . The Australian context afforded a rare opportunity to examine the implementation of and responses to telehealth in palliative care services on a large scale 11 …”

“…7 However, an empirical understanding of the clinical circumstances and patient populations that may be most appropriate for telehealth models remains scant. [8][9][10] The Australian context afforded a rare opportunity to examine the implementation of and responses to telehealth in palliative care services on a large scale. 11 As such, the present study aimed to prospectively evaluate telehealth consultations in outpatient palliative care settings according to patients and clinicians.…”

An Italian Model for the Management of Cancer Patients during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Regional Center for Oncological Orientation (COrO) of Taranto (ROP)

“…Many cancer patients frequently visit the hospital for treatment and disease surveillance [ 3 , 4 ], and they may be immunocompromised due to the underlying malignancy or anticancer therapy and are at higher risk of developing infections. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many medical centers experienced cancelations and postponements of in-person outpatient medical visits [ 5 ], and out of necessity, the use of telemedicine and virtual care was suggested as a method to maintain a continuum of healthcare for patients [ 6 ]. Telemedicine has been tested in multiple clinical settings, demonstrating at least equivalency to in-person care and high levels of patient and health professional satisfaction [ 7 ].…”