Patient perceptions of telehealth for pediatric type 1 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a follow-up study

BACKGROUND: There was rapid uptake of pediatric diabetes telehealth at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and initial studies demonstrated good usability and satisfaction. OBJECTIVES: As exposure to telehealth continued to increase during the pandemic, we aimed to determine changes in telehealth usability and changes in future preferences for telehealth care. METHODS: A telehealth questionnaire was administered early in the pandemic and again more than one year later. Survey data was linked with a clinical data registry. A multivariable proportional odds logistic mixed effects model was performed to assess the association between exposure to telehealth and outcome of future preference for telehealth. Multivariable linear mixed effects models were used to examine associations between exposure to early and later pandemic periods and the outcome of usability scores. RESULTS: Survey response rate was 40%, with 87 early and 168 later period participants. Virtual visits increased from 46% to 92% of all telehealth visits. Virtual visits improved in ‘ease of use’ (p=0.0013) and ‘satisfaction’ (p=0.045); there were no improvements in telephone visits. The odds of indicating higher preference for more future telehealth visits was 5.1 times higher in the later pandemic group (p=0.0298). 80% of participants would like their future care to include telehealth visits. CONCLUSION: At our tertiary diabetes centre, families’ desire for future telehealth care has increased during this one-year period of additional telehealth exposure, and virtual care has now become the preferred option. This study provides important family perspectives that can help guide development of future diabetes clinical care.