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Observational Study
. 2022 Aug;62(4):553-559.
doi: 10.1111/ajo.13510. Epub 2022 Mar 23.

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

Emma Jane Mclaughlin  1 , Lenore Caroline Ellett  1 , Emma Readman  1   2 , Samantha Mooney  1   2
Affiliations
Observational Study

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

Emma Jane Mclaughlin et al. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2022 Aug.

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.

Keywords: COVID-19; gynaecology; outpatients; remote consultation; telemedicine.

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Study participants.
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