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

Abstract

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.

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

“…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 .…”

“…Prior to the COVID‐19 pandemic, uptake of telehealth had been slow and fragmented in Australia 2,3 . Reported benefits of telehealth include improved access to care, increased convenience, reduced travel burden and improved patient satisfaction 4–6 . 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 4–6 …”

Gestational diabetes mellitus in the COVID‐19 pandemic: A retrospective study from Hangzhou, China

“…For example, during the COVID‐19 pandemic, gynecologic telemedicine services expanded rapidly, accounting for 94% of general consultations. 25 …”

“…This is easily explained by the fact that women who are not pregnant undergo OGTT mainly because of infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, or obesity, which are not urgently needed to be addressed and are therefore pushed back or through telemedicine consultations. For example, during the COVID‐19 pandemic, gynecologic telemedicine services expanded rapidly, accounting for 94% of general consultations 25 …”

“…For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, gynecologic telemedicine services expanded rapidly, accounting for 94% of general consultations. 25 The mechanism of new-onset diabetes in COVID-19 patients is unclear. It may have the following causes: stress hyperglycemia, steroid hormone-induced hyperglycemia, previously undiagnosed diabetes, and impaired glucose handling and insulin secretion.…”