Safety and efficacy of telephone clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic in the provision of care for patients with cancer.

Abstract

BackgroundDue to the COVID‐19 pandemic, telephone clinics have been utilised to reduce the risk of transmission. Evidence supporting its quality and safety is required.AimsAssess the efficacy and safety of telephone clinics in delivering care to established oncology patients and assess patient and health professionals’ preference (telephone vs face‐to‐face clinics).MethodsRetrospective chart audit in the month preceding and month following the introduction of telephone clinics at the Gold Coast University Hospital and a patient and health professional questionnaire.ResultsIn total, 1212 clinical encounters occurred in the month post the introduction of telephone clinics (vs 1208 encounters prior). There were no statistically significant differences in 24‐h (18 vs 22, P = 0.531) or 7‐day admissions (50 vs 46, P = 0.665) comparing encounters in the month prior to the introduction of telephone clinics versus the month post, but there was a statistically significant difference in 30‐day mortality post systemic therapy in favour of the post‐telephone clinic period (7 vs 0 patients, P = 0.008). Of the 222 patients who undertook the questionnaire, 42.3% preferred telephone clinics (95% confidence interval (CI) 35.97–48.97), 25.2% preferred face‐to‐face clinics (95% CI 19.92–31.39) and 32.4% did not prefer one method over another. Of the 24 health professionals who undertook the questionnaire, 70.8% felt patients preferred phone clinics.ConclusionsGenerally, patients and clinicians viewed telephone clinics favourably. Nevertheless, a large portion of patients still prefer face‐to‐face clinics. Services should be tailored to individual preferences. Although there were no ‘red flags’ in terms of mortality or admission rates, further longitudinal research is required.