Assessing the Effect of Telemedicine Implementation on Patient Satisfaction With and Adherence to Gynecologic Appointments [ID: 1344973

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid increase in telemedicine visits to ensure delivery of essential health services while minimizing infection exposure. While there have been studies related to telemedicine in other specialties, there is a paucity of data assessing the effect of telemedicine visits in gynecology. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether and how implementation of telemedicine affects patient adherence to and satisfaction with scheduled gynecologic appointments. METHODS: A retrospective review of 1,170 patients who participated in gynecologic telemedicine visits and 5,303 patients who participated in in-person gynecologic visits between March 1, 2020, and December 1, 2021, was performed to evaluate demographic information, chief complaint, and visit attendance. A cross-sectional survey of 1,248 patients who participated in gynecologic telemedicine visits between these dates was also performed to evaluate perceptions of satisfaction, access, quality and safety, and convenience of telemedicine. Institutional review board exempt protocol HP-00099093. RESULTS: The average no-show rate for gynecologic telemedicine visits was 2% compared to 22% for in-person gynecologic visits (P<.001). 33/1,249 patients responded to the survey. Sixty-nine percent (23/33) of survey respondents were satisfied with telemedicine visits. CONCLUSION: This study supports the continued incorporation of telemedicine into standard gynecologic practice to increase patient adherence with visits. Our gynecologic telemedicine no-show rates are significantly lower than patients’ overall no-show rates for in-person visits. These outcomes may be associated with patients’ satisfaction with telemedicine visits because of their being convenient, time saving, and less disruptive to their day.