Repository logo
 

Telemedicine in rheumatology: a mixed methods study exploring acceptability, preferences and experiences among patients and clinicians.

Simple item page
cam.issuedOnline2021-11-02
cam.orpheus.success2021-11-09 - Embargo set during processing via Fast-track
dc.contributor.authorSloan, Melanie
dc.contributor.authorLever, Elliott
dc.contributor.authorHarwood, Rupert
dc.contributor.authorGordon, Caroline
dc.contributor.authorWincup, Chris
dc.contributor.authorBlane, Moira
dc.contributor.authorBrimicombe, James
dc.contributor.authorLanyon, Peter
dc.contributor.authorHoward, Paul
dc.contributor.authorSutton, Stephen
dc.contributor.authorD'Cruz, David
dc.contributor.authorNaughton, Felix
dc.contributor.orcidWincup, Chris [0000-0002-8742-8311]
dc.contributor.orcidNaughton, Felix [0000-0001-9790-2796]
dc.date.accessioned2021-11-10T00:30:43Z
dc.date.available2021-11-10T00:30:43Z
dc.date.issued2022-05-30
dc.description.abstractOBJECTIVES: The Covid-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid global transition towards telemedicine; yet much remains unknown about telemedicine's acceptability and safety in rheumatology. To help address this gap and inform practice, this study investigated rheumatology patient and clinician experiences and views of telemedicine. METHODS: Sequential mixed methodology combined analysis of surveys and in-depth interviews. Between and within-group differences in views of telemedicine were examined for patients and clinicians using t-tests. RESULTS: Surveys (patients n = 1340, clinicians n = 111) and interviews (patients n = 31, clinicians n = 29) were completed between April 2021 and July 2021. The majority of patients were from the UK (96%) and had inflammatory arthritis (32%) or lupus (32%). Patients and clinicians rated telemedicine as worse than face-to-face consultations in almost all categories, although >60% found it more convenient. Building trusting medical relationships and assessment accuracy were great concerns (93% of clinicians and 86% of patients rated telemedicine as worse than face-to-face for assessment accuracy). Telemedicine was perceived to have increased misdiagnoses, inequalities and barriers to accessing care. Participants reported highly disparate telemedicine delivery and responsiveness from primary and secondary care. Although rheumatology clinicians highlighted the importance of a quick response to flaring patients, only 55% of patients were confident that their rheumatology department would respond within 48 hours. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate a preference for face-to-face consultations. Some negative experiences may be due to the pandemic rather than telemedicine specifically, although the risk of greater diagnostic inaccuracies using telemedicine is unlikely to be fully resolved. Training, choice, careful patient selection, and further consultation with clinicians and patients is required to increase telemedicine's acceptability and safety. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This telemedicine study is part of a pre-registered longitudinal multi-stage trial, the LISTEN study (ISRCTN-14966097), with later Covid-related additions registered in March 2021, including a pre-registered statistical analysis plan.
dc.identifier.doi10.17863/CAM.77965
dc.identifier.eissn1462-0332
dc.identifier.issn1462-0324
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/330522
dc.languageeng
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherOxford University Press (OUP)
dc.publisher.urlhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keab796
dc.rightsAll rights reserved
dc.rights.urihttp://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved
dc.subjectdigital technology in medicine
dc.subjectmixed-methods
dc.subjectpandemic
dc.subjectpatient–physician interactions
dc.subjectrare autoimmune rheumatic diseases
dc.subjectrheumatology
dc.subjecttelemedicine
dc.subjectCOVID-19
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectPandemics
dc.subjectRheumatology
dc.subjectSurveys and Questionnaires
dc.subjectTelemedicine
dc.titleTelemedicine in rheumatology: a mixed methods study exploring acceptability, preferences and experiences among patients and clinicians.
dc.typeArticle
dcterms.dateAccepted2021-10-20
prism.publicationDate2021
prism.publicationNameRheumatology (Oxford)
rioxxterms.licenseref.startdate2021-10-26
rioxxterms.licenseref.urihttp://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved
rioxxterms.typeJournal Article/Review
rioxxterms.versionAM
rioxxterms.versionofrecord10.1093/rheumatology/keab796

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
Telemedicine paper Sloan et al.docx
Size:
109.96 KB
Format:
Microsoft Word XML
Description:
Accepted version
Licence
http://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
DepositLicenceAgreementv2.1.pdf
Size:
150.9 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

Cambridge University Research Outputs