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Telehealth in outpatient delivery of palliative care: A qualitative study of patient and physician views

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 July 2022

Leeanne Pasanen ,
Roslyn Le Gautier ,
Aaron Wong ,
Olivia Wawryk ,
Anna Collins ,
Stephanie Schwetlik  and
Jennifer Philip Open the ORCID record for Jennifer Philip [Opens in a new window]
Leeanne Pasanen
Affiliation:
Parkville Integrated Palliative Care Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Roslyn Le Gautier
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Aaron Wong
Affiliation:
Parkville Integrated Palliative Care Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
Olivia Wawryk
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Anna Collins
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Stephanie Schwetlik
Affiliation:
North Adelaide Palliative Service, Modbury Hospital, Modbury, South Australia
Jennifer Philip*
Affiliation:
Parkville Integrated Palliative Care Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Jennifer Philip, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, St Vincent's Hospital, Victoria Pde, Fitzroy 3065, Victoria, Australia. E-mail: jennifer.philip@svha.org.au
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Abstract

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has widened the funded use of telehealth in Australia to support telehealth delivery to all patients in any setting. Increasing the use and experience of telehealth brings to light unique insights into the advantages and challenges of this new model of healthcare delivery This study aimed to qualitatively explore the experiences of both palliative care physicians and patients setting, including their views on its future role in healthcare.

Methods

This qualitative study was conducted across three metropolitan tertiary palliative care centers in Victoria, Australia between November 2020 and March 2021. Purposive sampling identified 23 participants (12 physicians and 11 patients). Semi-structured interviews focused on the last telehealth consultation, thoughts and impressions of telehealth, and the possibility of telehealth remaining in palliative care. A thematic approach was adopted to code and analyze the data.

Results

Telehealth transformed the ways physicians and patients in this study perceived and engaged with outpatient palliative care across the entire continuum of care. Four key themes were identified: (1) access to care; (2) delivery of care; (3) engagement with care; and (4) the future.

Significance of results

This study provides novel data bringing together the perspective of patients and physicians, which confirms the utility of telehealth in palliative care. Its convenience enables more frequent review, enables reviews to occur in response to lower levels of concern, and adds toward enhancing the continuity of care across and between settings. Moving forward, support seemed strongest for a hybrid model of telehealth and face-to-face consultations guided by key parameters relating to the level of anticipated complexity.

Keywords

COVID-19OutpatientsPalliative careTelemedicine
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 21 , Issue 6 , December 2023 , pp. 980 - 987
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

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