Oncophone20 study: Patients' perception of telemedicine in the COVID-19 pandemic during follow-up visits for gynecological and breast cancers

Abstract

Objective: To analyze oncological patients' perception of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A total of 345 women, of whom 267 experienced breast cancer and 78 experienced a gynecological cancer, were enrolled. Specific questionnaires about their experiences and feelings about telemedicine in the COVID-19 era were collected.

Results: In the breast group, "enhanced care" showed moderate positive perception (mean 4.40) among less-educated women that was slightly lower among better-educated women (mean 4.14) with a significant difference (P = 0.034). "satisfaction" had an opposite pattern: a mean of 3.99 for a lower level of education and 4.78 for a higher level of education, with a strong significant difference (P < 0.001). "privacy and discomfort" approached neutrality for less-educated women, while for higher-educated women the lower mean of 2.93 indicted a more positive perception (P = 0.007). In the pelvic group, younger women had a better perception towards telemedicine for "telemedicine as a substitution" (mean 3.68) compared to older women (mean 3.05). The privacy and discomfort subscale was in favor of better-educated women (mean 2.57) compared to less-educated women (mean 3.28; P = 0.042).

Conclusion: Telemedicine was generally well accepted, not only among younger and higher-educated women but also by women needing intensive care, in both cancer groups.

Keywords: COVID-19; breast cancer; follow-up; gynecology oncology; telemedicine.