Cancer patients report high acceptance of telemedicine

Patients with cancer are not averse to telemedicine, reporting satisfaction with their experience, according to a Singapore study. This high acceptance is associated with facilitating conditions such as having necessary resources and perceived improved access.

“For perceived advantages, respondents agreed extensively that telemedicine could enable them to receive more convenient support, enjoy cost savings from travel, and get timelier care to meet their needs,” the researchers said. “Telemedicine services should work to improve these aspects, leverage on advantages, and address disadvantages brought up by patients.”

In this study, a modified technology acceptance model (TAM) previously validated to predict acceptance of telemedicine by patients and factors affecting acceptance was used to design an online self-administered questionnaire.

The researchers used descriptive statistics to summarize data on demographic factors and TAM construct scores. They also used univariate and multivariate logistic regression to determine how these factors and constructs influenced acceptance.

Most of the respondents (n=278, mean age 59 years) were female (67.6 percent), Chinese (86.3 percent), and received parenteral chemotherapy (72.6 percent). Overall, technology access and confidence were moderate to high, whereas past telemedicine use was low at 18 percent. [Proc Singap Healthc 2022;doi:10.1177/20101058221104578]

More than half of the respondents (59.7 percent) expressed acceptance to telemedicine. The likelihood that patients would accept this setup was markedly higher if they agreed that their healthcare access would improve by using telemedicine (odds ratio [OR], 4.17, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.71‒10.16) or they would have the necessary resources (OR, 4.54, 95 percent CI, 2.30‒8.97).

“Respondents who believed that telemedicine would offer them better healthcare access were significantly more likely to accept it,” according to the researchers, led by Zhi Yao Chan from the Department of Pharmacy, National University Hospital in Singapore.

Convenience and accessibility

The findings support current evidence that cancer patients put premium on healthcare that is both convenient and readily accessible. [Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2018;27:e12643]

“The complexity and seriousness of cancer can often be distressing, and thus receiving timely attention can help patients ease their worries and facilitate the recovery progress,” the researchers said. [Ecancermedicalscience 2018;12:880]

A tele-oncology system aims to improve the convenience of accessing healthcare, and patients should find it easier and faster to choose a suitable consultation timing via telemedicine compared to physical clinic visits, according to the researchers.

Of note, the design of telemedicine should be user-friendly, especially since user confidence is relatively low when taking video calls. Moreover, most cancer patients seen in this study are usually older. Thus, an uncomplicated navigation system and layout, with instructions for use, may boost the confidence of older patients, the researchers noted. [J Med Internet Res 2016;18:e208]

“Telemedicine has demonstrated benefits for cancer patients including the potential to improve care coordination and patient outcomes,” they said. “Since June 2020, teleconsultations have been implemented in the National Cancer Centre Singapore.”