Use of Video Consultations for Patients With Hematological Diseases From a Patient Perspective: Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND: The need for the use of telemedicine is expected to increase in the coming years. There is, furthermore, a lack of evidence about the use of video consultations for hematological patients, and how the use of video consultations is experienced from the patients’ perspective. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify patients’ experiences with the use of video consultations in place of face-to-face consultations, what it means to the patient to save the travel time, and how the roles between patients and health care professionals are experienced when using video consultation. This study concerns stable, not acutely ill, patients with hematological disease. METHODS: The study was designed as an exploratory and qualitative study. Data were collected through participant observations and semistructured interviews and analyzed in a postphenomenological framework. RESULTS: The data analysis revealed three categories: “Intimacy is not about physical presence,” “Handling technology,” and “Technology increases the freedom that the patients desire.” CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates what is important for patients with regards to telemedicine and how they felt about seeing health care professionals through a screen. It was found that intimacy can be mediated through a screen and physical presence is not as important to the patient as other things. The study further pointed out how patients valued being involved in the planning of their treatment. The patients also valued the freedom associated with telemedicine and actively took responsibility for their own course of treatment. Patients felt that video consultations allowed them to be free and active, despite their illness.