9359 Patients’ Perspectives On Telemedicine In Endocrinology

Abstract

Abstract Disclosure: P. Rotman Pikielny: None. L. Barzilay Yoseph: None. M. Kasher Meron: None. K. Rodrig: None. S. Shapira: None. Background: Telemedicine has emerged as an important and sometimes crucial tool in patient care, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It offers numerous benefits, including time efficiency and improved access to specialized services. However, its adoption by endocrinology is constrained by the traditional emphasis on the physician-patient relationship and physical examinations. Objectives: This study evaluated patients’ perspectives on telemedicine, regarding specific aspects of satisfaction, including communication, wait times, and financial and time burdens. Methods: Surveys were delivered via text messages sent after telephone vs. frontal visits in an outpatient endocrinology clinic in a tertiary referral center. The surveys, sent from Nov 2022 to Dec 2023, investigated various aspects of satisfaction with the appointment and were based on the Telemedicine Satisfaction Questionnaire, a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. Variations in preference levels across diverse patient groups were also examined. Answers were received via the REDCap application. Patients were told that responses were optional and answering the survey granted informed consent. Results: A total 135 patients completed the questionnaire, 93 who attended telephone and 42 after frontal visits. The groups were similar clinically: 77% were women, with an average age of 63 years. Visits were held mainly due to diabetes (22%), osteoporosis (31%), or obesity 10%), with no statistical differences between groups. 60% were followed more than a year. More patients who had telephone visits (69.9%) had previous experience with telephone visits vs. patients who had frontal visits (40.5%; p<0.004). Patients who had telephone visits reported higher satisfaction with wait time (p=0.002), physicians' explanations (p=0.03) and lower financial and time burdens (p<0.001). However, they were less able to share personal situations with the physician (p<0.001). More patients who experienced telephone visits thought they were preferrable to frontal visits (p<0.001). Notably, individuals with long-term follow-up and non-diabetic endocrine conditions had more interest in telemedicine. Conclusions: Patients report high satisfaction with telemedicine, but constrained in-person interactions remain a notable limitation. Telemedicine may not suit all patient groups or all time-points of patient care, requiring adaptation for broader use. Further research with higher response rate and specifications of different patient populations are essential to generalize these findings. Presentation: 6/2/2024