Patients' experience of teleconsultations in the UK

Abstract

Background: Teleconsultations were introduced for cancer surgery follow-up to ease pressure on hospital services and facilitate patients' access to those services. There is limited evidence on patients' perceptions of this swift shift in service provision.

Aims: The purpose of this qualitative systematic review was to explore patient experiences of teleconsultations within NHS cancer surgery follow-up services to better understand patient perceptions, satisfaction and acceptability of teleconsultations within cancer services.

Methods: Medline, Embase, PubMed and Google Scholar were searched up to 1 July 2022. Qualitative studies were synthesised using the Braun and Clarke framework.

Findings: There were three overarching themes: accessibility; patient experience; and consultation.

Conclusion: Teleconsultations were widely accepted among cancer surgical patients. However, there were reports of a lack of rapport building and emotional support because of the absence of visual cues and patient camaraderie.

Keywords: Cancer; Follow-up; Hospital; Surgery; Teleconsultations.