Original Research

Exploring Patient Perspectives Surrounding Telemedicine Versus In-Person Preoperative Visits

Davenport, Abigail MD^∗,†; Brunn, Elizabeth MD^†,‡; Creswell, Michael MD^†; Sholklapper, Tamir MD^†; Ringel, Nancy MD^§; Gutman, Robert MD^∗,†

Author Information

From the ^∗Section of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, MedStar Washington Hospital Center

^†Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC

^‡Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Hospital Center, Arlington, VA

^§Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.

Correspondence: Abigail Davenport, MD. E-mail: [email protected].

R.G. was on the Boston Scientific consultant strategic advisory board. He was also a Johnson and Johnson expert witness on slings and receives UpToDate royalties from the urethral diverticulum section. The other authors have declared they have no conflicts of interest.

The study was funded by the Washington Hospital Center Graduate Medical Education.

This work was presented as a poster at the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons 2022 Annual Conference; San Antonio, TX, March 29, 2022.

IRB registration: STUDY00003371; approved July 8, 2021.

Data availability: Available upon author request.

Urogynecology 29(6):p 545-551, June 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000001310

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Erratum

Abstract

Importance

Telemedicine was increasingly used to provide patients with an alternative to in-office visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. While previous studies have described the role of telemedicine for preoperative visits for other surgical specialties, the role of this modality in preoperative visits for gynecologic surgery has not been thoroughly explored.

Objectives

The aims of the study are to explore and compare patient experience, decision making, and satisfaction among women undergoing telemedicine or in-person preoperative visits.

Study Design

This was a qualitative study of women who underwent a preoperative appointment with a urogynecologic surgeon or minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon at a single academic institution from April to May of 2021. Data were collected using semistructured phone interviews, which focused on visit content, visit type decision making, surgical preparedness/confidence, and past surgical experiences. Interviews were thematically analyzed until theoretical saturation was achieved in accordance with grounded theory.

Results

Theoretical saturation occurred with 20 interviews. Participants were evenly divided between in-person and telemedicine visits. Major themes included visit content, experience/quality, surgeon perception, and surgical preparedness. Advantages of telemedicine visits were convenience and safety. Advantages of in-person visits were social factors, perceived medical or surgical severity, and preoperative physical examination. Disadvantages for telemedicine visits included technology concerns and difficulty accessing preoperative materials. The disadvantage of an in-person visit was the inability to have family present because of COVID hospital policy restrictions. Participants in both groups felt prepared for surgery and reported high satisfaction with their care.

Conclusions

Decision making for selecting an in-person or telemedicine visit is complex and involves balancing multiple advantages and disadvantages. Participant experience was similar for both visit types with high satisfaction.

Erratum

When originally published, Volume 29, Issue 6 (June 2023) was incorrectly paginated. The issue pagination has been corrected. The publisher apologizes for the error.

Urogynecology. 29(9):784, September 2023.

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Exploring Patient Perspectives Surrounding Telemedicine Versus In-Person Preoperative Visits