Virtual visits post‐COVID‐19: Assessing patient preferences for telemedicine in urology
Max D. Sandler, Grace K. Sarris, Adam D. Williams, Katherine Amin, Alan J. Wein, Raveen SyanAbstract
Background
The coronavirus pandemic rapidly integrated telemedicine into healthcare. In 2020, patients expressed satisfaction with virtual visits but desired a return to in‐person care. We evaluated patient preferences for telemedicine in urology as regulations evolve after the height of COVID‐19.
Methods
We distributed an anonymous, cross‐sectional survey to academic urology clinic patients, collecting demographics, factors influencing provider choice, benefits and frustrations of telemedicine, and barriers to care if telemedicine were unavailable. As prior telemedicine experience was not assessed, some responses may reflect anticipated perceptions. We analyzed categorical variables using chi‐square tests ( p < 0.05) and reported odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results
Of 127 participants, 32 (25.2%) reported telemedicine optionality as important when selecting a provider. Top benefits were convenience (59.8%) and reduced wait times (32.3%), while disadvantages included reduced personal connection (70.9%) and lack of private space (51.2%). Non‐Hispanic patients were more concerned about data privacy than Hispanic patients (OR = 3.79, 95% CI = 1.43–10.05, p = 0.007). Patients over 60 had more difficulty with technology (OR = 5.68, 95% CI = 1.82–17.67, p = 0.002). Lower‐educated patients expressed more concerns about reliable internet (OR = 4.12, 95% CI = 1.17–14.49, p = 0.03). If telemedicine were unavailable, 5.5% and 2.4% reported attending in‐person visits would be “somewhat” or “very” difficult, respectively.
Conclusion
While telemedicine in urology is valued for convenience, frustrations may limit patient interest. Our findings suggest a minority of patients in our urban setting would face difficulty receiving care without telemedicine, though this may not apply to areas with limited specialized care. Optimizing telemedicine while addressing challenges is essential for improving patient experiences and maintaining care access.