Oral Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2022

Supporting best practice telehealth in cancer care: findings from a national study of telehealth use by cancer services and consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic (#20)

Kawai Ng 1 , Carolyn Der Vartanian 1 , Melissa Austen 1 , Vivienne Milch 1 2 , Janessa Catto 1 , Sophia Paynter 1 , Christine Biondi 1 , Regina Ryan 1 , Annie Banbury 3 4 , Anthony C Smith 3 4 5 , Anna Boltong 1 6
  1. Cancer Australia, Strawberry Hills, NSW, Australia
  2. The University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Centre for Online Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
  4. Centre for Health Services, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  5. Centre for Innovative Medical Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
  6. Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Austraila

Aims

To understand consumer and clinician experiences in utilising telehealth in cancer care since the introduction of new Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers for telehealth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A mixed-methods approach was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data on telehealth use during the pandemic:

  • MBS services for cancer-related professional attendances were examined by delivery type, provider type and population group.
  • Health service staff (n=59) and consumers (n=1,162) from cancer services across Australia were invited to complete online surveys and semi-structured interviews about the use of video and telephone telehealth, perceived effectiveness of video and telephone compared to in-person consultations, and the key barriers and enablers.
  • A virtual roundtable was held with more than 40 key cancer control stakeholders regarding strategies to support the cancer community to offer and utilise best practice approaches to telehealth.

Results

Telehealth was used across all stages of the cancer care pathway, and was most frequently used during the ‘treatment’ and ‘care after initial treatment and recovery’ stages.

Although video consults were perceived to be more effective than telephone consults, telephone use was more frequent. Patients and their carers often felt less engaged with their clinician during telephone consults and perceived that they were rarely given a choice between the consultation modes.

Key enablers included medical leadership and administrative support, remuneration (MBS telehealth items), reduced risk of infection, reduction in travel time and costs, and existing relationship between patient and clinician. Key barriers included inadequate infrastructure, lack of training, access issues (e.g. internet connectivity), and not being offered the choice of a video consultation.

Conclusion

Telehealth is appropriate for the delivery of cancer care. A hybrid model of care (telehealth and in-person options) and the ability to give consumers choice is integral to supporting best practice telehealth in cancer care.