Survey of Healthcare Providers Utilization and Perception of Telehealth On-Treatment Visits During COVID-19 Pandemic

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S): Patients undergoing radiotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic have experienced unique changes to care, including increased use of telehealth for radiotherapy on-treatment visits (OTVs). The objective of this study was to determine telehealth utilization and provider perceptions towards effectively assessing, managing and treating patients via telehealth OTVs during the pandemic. MATERIALS/METHODS: As part of this IRB-approved single institution study, a survey was developed to capture the percentage of OTVs that were conducted via telehealth and provider perceptions on management effectiveness. Participants included attending and resident physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs). Likert scale questions assessed the provider perceptions in the following areas: ability to fully evaluate patient, manage symptoms, minimize acute care, and prevent COVID19 exposure. The survey was sent at 3 timepoints: April 15th, May 22nd, and December 18, 2020 (1, 2, and 7 months since declaration of COVID-19 as a national emergency). Respondents were not linked across the 3 surveys. Response frequencies and percentages are presented for each survey and global trends in responses are described. RESULTS: Surveys were sent to 34 radiation oncology providers. 22 (65%), 20 (59%), and 21 (62%) participants responded to the April, May, and December survey, respectively. 13, 12, 13 attending physicians; 8, 6, and 3 resident physicians; and 2, 2, and 5 APPs responded to the 3 surveys, respectively. In the April survey 59% of respondents indicated that 75-100% of patients were evaluated weekly by telehealth. This percentage dropped to 8% in May and 0% in December. Most respondents reported agreement with the ability to fully evaluate patients (70% vs 55%; 55%), manage symptoms (80% vs 59%; 60%) and minimize acute care (70% vs 64%; 60%) with in-person OTVs (% December vs April; May). Agreement of an appropriate balance of patient care and COVID-19 risk prevention dropped from 86% in April to 75% in May and 68% in December. Respondents reported a preference for patient-specific management strategies (telehealth vs in-person visits) at all time points (95% in April and May; 90% in December). CONCLUSION: Based on our results, telehealth was widely used during the beginning of the pandemic, but shifted to essentially zero by December 2020. The increase of in person visits by December appears to correlate with agreement to fully evaluate a patient, manage symptoms, and minimize acute care. However, as in person OTVs increased, there was more concern for COVID-19 prevention by providers. By implementing systems into our electronic medical record that can accurately predict patients that may imminently require acute intervention, we may strike a balance of providing the best care for our cancer patients and minimize exposure risk.