Telehealth follow-up consultations for melanoma patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: Patient and clinician satisfaction

Ali Al-Rikaby; Ahmad Sulaiman; Jake R Thompson; Robyn P M Saw; Frances Boyle; Nicole Taylor; Matteo S Carlino; Rachael L Morton; Omgo E Nieweg; John F Thompson; Iris Bartula

doi:10.1002/cam4.6679

Telehealth follow-up consultations for melanoma patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: Patient and clinician satisfaction

Cancer Med. 2023 Dec;12(23):21373-21388. doi: 10.1002/cam4.6679. Epub 2023 Nov 6.

Authors

Ali Al-Rikaby¹, Ahmad Sulaiman², Jake R Thompson^{1

2}, Robyn P M Saw^{1

2

3}, Frances Boyle^{1

2

4}, Nicole Taylor⁵, Matteo S Carlino^{1

2

5}, Rachael L Morton^{2

6}, Omgo E Nieweg^{2

3}, John F Thompson^{1

2

3}, Iris Bartula^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
² Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ Department of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁴ Patricia Ritchie Centre for Cancer Care and Research, Mater Hospital, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁵ Department of Medical Oncology, Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁶ NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused rapid implementation of telehealth for melanoma follow-up care in Australia. This study explores Australian melanoma patients and clinicians' level of satisfaction with telehealth.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted across three specialist melanoma centres in Sydney, Australia. Melanoma patients (all stages) and clinicians completed mixed methods surveys seeking socio-demographic and clinical information and questionnaires to assess satisfaction with telehealth. Additionally, patients completed measures of quality of life, fear of cancer recurrence and trust in their oncologist. Patients and clinicians provided open-ended responses to qualitative questions about their perceptions of telehealth.

Results: One hundred and fifteen patients and 13 clinicians responded to surveys. Telephone was used by 109 (95%) patients and 11 (85%) clinicians. Fifty-seven (50%) patients and nine (69%) clinicians preferred face-to-face consultations, 38 (33%) patients and 3 (23%) clinicians preferred a combination of face-to-face and telehealth consultations. Five (4%) patients and nil clinicians preferred telehealth consultations. Patients diagnosed with early-stage melanoma, using telehealth for the first time, who have lower trust in their oncologist, and having higher care delivery, communication and supportive care concerns were likely to report lower satisfaction with telehealth. Open-ended responses were consistent between patients and clinicians, who reported safety, convenience and improved access to care as major benefits, while identifying personal, interpersonal, clinical and system-related disadvantages.

Discussion: While telehealth has been widely implemented during COVID-19, the benefits identified by patients and clinicians may extend past the pandemic. Telehealth may be considered for use in conjunction with face-to-face consultations to provide melanoma follow-up care.

Keywords: COVID-19; melanoma; satisfaction; supportive care; telehealth.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australia / epidemiology
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Melanoma* / epidemiology
Melanoma* / therapy
Pandemics
Patient Satisfaction
Personal Satisfaction
Quality of Life
Referral and Consultation
Telemedicine*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding