Patient experience of telephone consultations in gynaecology: a service evaluation

Khan, Zarnigar; Kershaw, Victoria; Madhuvrata, Priya; Radley, Stephen; Connor, Mary

doi:10.1111/1471-0528.16771

Cited by 13 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Consistent with other studies of gynaecological services, this study adds to the evidence that telehealth is acceptable and satisfactory to women with many preferring to receive aspects of their care via telehealth, rather than face‐to‐face consultations 4,8,10,21,22 . The benefits of telehealth as reported here, include improved flexibility, access and convenience, reduced personal costs (lost wages, travel and parking fees), safety and perceived equivalent care quality had they attended face‐to‐face 5,8,21 . Virtual attendance also limited disruptions to women's work, family and social life 21,23 …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…2,3 Reported benefits of telehealth include improved access to care, increased convenience, reduced travel burden and improved patient satisfaction. [4][5][6] However, barriers to telehealth have been reported including difficulties building rapport between patients and clinicians, inability for physical examination, funding constraints, lack of privacy, inadequate healthcare infrastructure and processes, hearing difficulties and technology challenges. [4][5][6] Monash Health, the largest Australian public health service, provided over 1.5 million episodes of tertiary outpatient care in 2019-2020.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The impact of COVID‐19 on a specialised menopause clinic: Changes in practice and women's experiences

Kozica-Olenski

Ghelani

Boyle

et al. 2023

Aust NZ J Obst Gynaeco

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Aims The COVID‐19 pandemic necessitated the rapid change in a dedicated multidisciplinary menopause clinic from in‐person consultations to telehealth. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of COVID‐19 on menopause service delivery and consumer experiences. Methods Two‐part study involving the following. (i) Clinical audit conducted June–July 2019 (pre‐COVID‐19) and June–July 2020 (COVID‐19) assessing practice and service delivery changes. Assessment outcomes included: patient demographics, cause of menopause, presence of menopause symptoms, appointment attendance, medical history, investigations and menopause treatments. (ii) A post‐clinic online survey exploring the acceptability and experience of telehealth, once telehealth models of care had been routinely used in the menopause service (2021). Results Pre‐COVID (n = 156) and COVID‐19 (n = 150) clinic consultations were audited. Menopause care delivery changed significantly from 100% face‐to‐face consultations in 2019 to 95.4% telehealth consultations in 2020. In 2020, fewer women had investigations performed vs 2019 (P < 0.001), although use of menopausal therapies was similar (P < 0.05). Ninety‐four women completed the online survey. Most women (70%) were satisfied with their telehealth consultation and perceived that the doctor effectively communicated with them (76%). Women preferred face‐to‐face consultations for their first menopause clinic visit (69%) and telehealth for review consultations (65%). The majority of women (62%) viewed the continuation of telehealth consultations as ‘moderately’ to ‘extremely useful’ post‐pandemic. Conclusion The COVID‐19 pandemic caused significant changes to menopause service delivery. Telehealth was perceived as feasible and acceptable by women, supporting the continuation of a hybrid service delivery model incorporating telehealth and face‐to‐face consultation to meet the needs of women.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of COVID‐19 on a specialised menopause clinic: Changes in practice and women's experiences

Kozica-Olenski

Ghelani

Boyle

et al. 2023

Aust NZ J Obst Gynaeco

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Telehealth has already been shown to have many specific applications in gynaecology including: contraceptive advice, 14 vulvovaginitis, 15 pre‐ and post‐surgical care, 16 urogynaecology, 17 fertility, 18 medical termination of pregnancy, 19 and management of sexually transmitted infections. 20 Furthermore, Khan et al 21 recently found that telephone consultations in gynaecology are convenient and effective. This study further adds to the evidence that telehealth is acceptable for managing patients with a range of presentations in a general gynaecology outpatient setting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Telehealth for gynaecology outpatients during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Patient and clinician experiences

Mclaughlin

Ellett

Readman

et al. 2022

Aust NZ J Obst Gynaeco

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Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has necessitated alterations in provision of health care and how patients access it. Telehealth has replaced traditional face‐to‐face outpatient clinics in an unprecedented manner. This study aimed to assess overall patient and clinician satisfaction with telehealth consultations, to establish acceptability of telehealth during pandemic and non‐pandemic times, and document feedback. Materials and Methods A prospective observational study involving women presenting to a general gynaecology outpatient department was performed. Women who attended for consultation between 13 July and 4 September 2020 were invited to participate in a questionnaire following their telehealth appointment. Clinicians consulting in the outpatient department were invited to complete a questionnaire at the end of the eight‐week study period. Satisfaction, utility and acceptability data were obtained using visual analogue scales (VAS). Results Twenty‐six out of 56 (46.4%) clinicians and 124/870 (14.3%) patients completed the questionnaire. Patients who responded were older and more likely to have been born in Australia than women who did not ( P = 0.0355 and P = 0.005, respectively). Overall patient satisfaction with telehealth was high (median VAS (interquartile range), 8.6 (5.6–9.8)). More women found telehealth to be acceptable during a pandemic than afterward (8.9 vs 6.6, P < 0.0001). Clinicians were less satisfied with telehealth than patients (7.1 vs 8.6, P = 0.02); however, most would be happy to continue using telehealth in non‐pandemic times (7.0 (6.2–9.8)). Conclusion Telehealth consultations allow provision of gynaecological care at a time when reducing risk of infection to patients and staff is paramount. Telehealth gynaecology consultations are efficient and convenient without significant detriment to patient or clinician satisfaction.

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“…Patients received surveys 3 to 9 weeks post-consultation, depending upon whether their appointment was at the start or the end of the sample time frame. Data from urogynaecology TCs were extracted from the responses to the service evaluation investigating experience of TC across all gynaecological sub-specialities [ 16 ]. Clinical outcome data were obtained from electronic patient records for all urogynaecology patients who attended TCs May to June 2020.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patient experience of virtual urogynaecology services during Covid-19 pandemic

2022

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Introduction and hypothesis Due to increasing burden on outpatient services, there is a drive from NHS policy makers to utilise virtual clinics to help curb unsustainable demand. During the COVID-19 pandemic, urogynaecology clinics were converted to telephone consultation (TC). We used this opportunity to evaluate patient perspective and identify which patients may be best suited to TC. Methods Postal questionnaires were sent to patients following urogynaecology TCs in May to June 2020. Clinical outcome data were obtained from electronic records. The survey combined three validated tools: QQ-10, Patient Enablement Index (PEI) and NHS Friends and Family Test (NHS-FFT). Qualitative and quantitative data were analysed. Results Of the 308 patients contacted, 165 responded (54%). Eighty-six percent of patients described their experience of TC as “very good” or “good” (NHS-FFT). Positive themes included convenience, thoroughness and feeling at ease in terms of communicating intimate symptoms. QQ-10 results demonstrated a mean value score of 77 and a mean burden score of 17 (range 0–100); 72% of patients “strongly” or “mostly” agreed to repeat TC. Following TC, 22% of patients were discharged, 72% required follow-up and 37% needed face-to-face (F2F) consultation. Post-operative patients and those with lower urinary tract symptoms benefited most, whereas many prolapse patients required F2F consultation. Conclusions We report the largest qualitative and quantitative study of patient experience of TC in urogynaecology. TC is a convenient, acceptable and effective medium for conducting patient care. TC can support patients in communicating intimate symptoms with health professionals.

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Patient experience of telephone consultations in gynaecology: a service evaluation

Cited by 13 publications

References 27 publications

The impact of COVID‐19 on a specialised menopause clinic: Changes in practice and women's experiences

The impact of COVID‐19 on a specialised menopause clinic: Changes in practice and women's experiences

Telehealth for gynaecology outpatients during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Patient and clinician experiences

Patient experience of virtual urogynaecology services during Covid-19 pandemic

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