Telemedicine in Cancer Care Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Oncology 2.0?

Researcher Experience and Comfort With Telemedicine and Remote Patient Monitoring in Cancer Treatment Trials

BACKGROUND

Since the onset of COVID-19, oncology practices across the US have integrated telemedicine (TM) and remote patient monitoring (RPM) into routine care and clinical trials. The extent of provider experience and comfort with TM/RPM in treatment trials, however, is unknown. We surveyed oncology researchers to assess experience and comfort with TM/RPM.

METHODS

Between April 10 and June 1, 2022, we distributed email surveys to US-based members of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) whose member records indicated interest or specialization in clinical research. We collected respondent demographic data, clinical trial experience, workplace characteristics, and comfort and experience with TM/RPM use across trial components in phase I and phase II/III trials. TM/RPM was defined as clinical trial-related healthcare and monitoring for patients geographically separated from trial site.

RESULTS

There were 141 surveys analyzed (5.1% response rate). Ninety percent of respondents had been Principal Investigators, 98% practiced in a norural site. Most respondents had enrolled patients in phase I (82%) and phase II/III trials (99%). Across all phases and trial components, there was a higher frequency of researcher comfort compared to experience. Regarding remote care in treatment trials, 75% reported using TM, RPM, or both. Among these individuals, 62% had never provided remote care to trial patients before the pandemic.

CONCLUSION

COVID-19 spurred the rise of TM/RPM in cancer treatment trials, and some TM/RPM use continues in this context. Among oncology researchers, higher levels of comfort compared with real-world experience with TM/RPM reveal opportunities for expanding TM/RPM policies and guidelines in oncology research.

"You matter": patients perceptions and disparities about cancer care and telehealth during and after COVID-19 pandemic

PURPOSE

Disparities in cancer care have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study is to establish how telehealth mitigated the effect of COVID-19 on the healthcare sector and to identify potential disparities in perception and experience with telehealth in cancer care during and after the pandemic.

METHODS

We identified individuals with an established cancer diagnosis who received treatment at a comprehensive academic cancer center with a diverse patient population between 2019 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were asked to complete a self-administrated survey intended to collect patient-reported outcomes on socioeconomic and mental health challenges incurred during the pandemic as well as participants' experience with telehealth. The assessment was adapted from a 21-question-based survey applied for mental health. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics and the response to the survey items. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess and analyze the contributing factors to the survey responses.

RESULTS

A total of N = 136 participants were included in this analysis. The majority of participants (60.6%) reported increased anxiety, stress, or experience of distress as a direct result of COVID-19. However, among 54.1% of survey responders participated in a telehealth appointment and 84.4% agreed it was an easy and effective experience.

CONCLUSION

Elderly, male, and black participants reported the worst impact related to the pandemic. The majority of patients had a positive experience with telehealth. The results of the study suggest that telehealth services can serve as a tool for patients with cancer during and beyond active treatment to access supportive services.

Telehealth and Outcomes in Patients With Cancer: Data and Innovation

ABSTRACT

Despite that telehealth has been crucial to the delivery of oncology care during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of this care delivery mechanism on outcomes in cancer care has not been rigorously studied relative standard in-person care for patients with cancer. Patient-centered outcomes such as quality of life, patient satisfaction, and symptoms are important outcomes that have been the primary focus of many of the existing studies in this space, yet only a select few have evaluated overall survival and other objective efficacy endpoints. Studies have alluded to positive effects of telehealth on mitigating financial toxicity and enhancing cost-effective care delivery in oncology. Telehealth carries much potential for advancing care for patients with cancer, but future study should focus on additional efficacy endpoints, implementation, and ways to reduce disparities.

Telehealth and Technology: New Directions in Cancer Care

ABSTRACT

Telehealth is a broad concept that refers to any delivery of health care in real time using technologies to connect people or information that are not in the same physical location. Until fairly recently, telehealth was more aspiration than reality. This situation changed radically due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a near-overnight inability for patients to be seen for routine management of chronic health conditions, including those with cancer. The purpose of this brief narrative review is to outline some areas where emerging and future technology may allow for innovations with specific implications for people with a current or past diagnosis of cancer, including underserved and/or historically excluded populations. Specific topics of telehealth are broadly covered in other areas of the special issue.

Telemedicine and Cancer Care: Barriers and Strategies to Optimize Delivery

ABSTRACT

Telemedicine holds the potential to transform cancer care delivery and optimize value, access, and quality of care. A transformed regulatory environment coupled with the need to continue medical care despite operational limitations led to the rapid expansion of telemedicine in cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its utilization has since varied, and it has faced significant challenges. In this review, we will explore the state of telemedicine in cancer care delivery, the challenges it faces, and strategies to enhance its successful implementation.

Telehealth in Cancer Care: Inequities, Barriers, and Opportunities

ABSTRACT

Telecommunications technology began to be integrated into health care delivery by the mid-1900s, with the goal of increasing access to care including access to cancer care.There have been at least 3 significant telehealth expansion periods, with the most recent related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology uptake increased in the 1990s as quality improved, costs came down, and usability factors were addressed. As telehealth practice transitioned to use of personal devices, the COVID-19 pandemic arose, and necessity compelled widespread telehealth uptake. Most patients and clinicians entered the pandemic with little if any telehealth experience and often no training on using personal devices to access health care. Teleoncology data reveal cancer care feasibility and acceptability with generally high levels of satisfaction for both patients and clinicians. Sustaining the progress made in telehealth uptake requires ongoing insurance coverage with parity in coverage, licensure facilitation, and ongoing development of technology that is easy to use. In addition, to tele-cancer care appointments, the technology may be used for care coordination, education, and increased access to cancer clinical trials.

Persistence of Telemedicine Usage for Breast and Prostate Cancer after the Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic

While COVID-19 catalyzed a shift to telemedicine, little is known about the persistence of remote cancer care in non-emergent times. We assessed telemedicine use at a high-volume academic cancer center in New York City and analyzed breast and prostate cancer visits pre-COVID-19, peak COVID-19, and post-peak. Descriptive statistics assessed visit mode (in person, telemedicine) and type (new, follow-up, other) by department/specialty, with Fisher's exact tests comparing peak/post-peak differences. The study included 602,233 visits, with telemedicine comprising 2% of visits pre-COVID-19, 50% peak COVID-19, and 30% post-peak. Notable variations emerged by department/specialty and visit type. Post-peak, most departments/specialties continued using telemedicine near or above peak levels, except medicine, neurology, and survivorship, where remote care fell. In psychiatry, social work, and nutrition, nearly all visits were conducted remotely during and after peak COVID-19, while surgery and nursing maintained low telemedicine usage. Post-peak, anesthesiology and neurology used telemedicine seldom for new visits but often for follow-ups, while nursing showed the opposite pattern. These trends suggest department- and visit-specific contexts where providers and patients choose telemedicine in non-emergent conditions. More research is needed to explore these findings and evaluate telemedicine's appropriateness and impact across the care continuum.

Impact of state telehealth policies on telehealth use among patients with newly diagnosed cancer

BACKGROUND

Telehealth restrictions were relaxed under the COVID-19 public health emergency. We examined telehealth use before and during the pandemic among patients with newly diagnosed cancers and the association between state policies and telehealth use.

METHODS

The study cohort was constructed from Optum's deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart and included patients with lymphoma, female breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer diagnosed between March 1, 2019, and March 31, 2021. We performed an interrupted time series analysis to examine the trend of cancer-related telehealth use within 1 month of diagnosis relative to the timing of the COVID-19 public health emergency and multivariable logistic regressions to examine factors-specifically, state parity laws and regulations on cross-state practice-associated with telehealth.

RESULTS

Of 110 461 patients, the rate of telehealth use peaked at 33.4% in April 2020, then decreased to 12% to 15% between September 2020 and March 2021. Among the 53 982 patients diagnosed since March 2020, telehealth use was statistically significantly lower for privately insured patients residing in states with coverage-only parity or no or unspecified parity than those in states with coverage and payment parity (adjusted rate = 20.2%, 19.1%, and 23.3%, respectively). The adjusted rate was lower for patients in states with cross-state telehealth policy limitations than for those in states without restrictions (14.9% vs 17.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Telehealth use by patients diagnosed with cancer during the pandemic was higher among those living in states with more generous parity and less restrictive rules for cross-state practice. Policy makers contemplating whether to permanently relax certain telehealth policies must consider the impact on vulnerable patient populations who can benefit from telehealth.

Teleoncology: Novel Approaches for Improving Cancer Care in North America

Due to widespread healthcare workforce shortages, many patients living in remote and rural North America currently have reduced access to various medical specialists. These shortages, coupled with the aging North American population, highlight the need to transform contemporary healthcare delivery systems. The exchange of medical information via telecommunication technology, known as telemedicine, offers promising solutions to address the medical needs of an aging population and the increased demand for specialty medical services. This progressive movement has also improved access to quality health care by mitigating the current shortage of trained subspecialists. Minimizing the effects of these shortages is particularly urgent in the care of cancer patients, many of whom require regular follow-up and close monitoring. Cancer patients living in remote areas of North America have reduced access to specialized care and, thus, have unacceptably high mortality and morbidity rates. Teleoncology, or the use of telemedicine to provide oncology services remotely, has the ability to improve access to high-quality care and assist in alleviating the burden of some of the severe adverse events associated with cancer. In this review, the authors describe how recent advances in teleoncology can reduce healthcare disparities and improve future cancer care in North America.

Teleconsultation Perceptions of Medical and Radiation Oncologists in the COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19 Era: A National Survey in the Philippines

PURPOSE

The study reports on the current perception of medical and radiation oncologists regarding teleconsultation in the Philippines. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption of telemedicine was not widespread. With movement restrictions imposed during the pandemic, physicians were compelled to use telemedicine. It is uncertain whether physicians will still adopt its use in practice in the post-COVID-19 era. This study gives insight into the possible adaptation of this mode of consultation in the future, especially in areas with limited health care resources.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a national survey among medical oncologists and radiation oncologists in the Philippines. A 43-item online survey was developed, validated, and administered to the oncologists. The demographics and data from categorical questions were reported as frequencies and percentages.

RESULTS

A total of 142 responses were gathered from 82 medical oncologists and 60 radiation oncologists. There was agreement among participants that, during the pandemic, teleconsultation could be used for the first visit, diagnostic workup request, treatment explanation, follow-up care, and chronic disease management. There was disagreement whether cancer diagnosis disclosure and cancer prognosis revelation could be performed via teleconsultation, and there was agreement that emergency consultation and physical examination would warrant a face-to-face consultation. After the COVID-19 pandemic, 78.7% intend to continue using teleconsultation except for emergency consultations, first visits, physical examination, diagnosis disclosure, and cancer prognosis revelation.

CONCLUSION

Teleconsultation was perceived by oncologists as an acceptable method of providing cancer care during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Oncologists also intend to use teleconsultation in the post-COVID-19 era in certain aspects of patient care.

Healthcare Professionals' Specialists' Perception of Telemedicine in Romania-A Quantitative Study of Beliefs, Practices, and Expectations

BACKGROUND

Telemedicine is the service of delivering medical care from a distance through the means of modern technology. It has many advantages, including improved access, decreased costs for both patients and clinics, more flexibility and availability, as well as more precise and individualized therapies. However, it is equally important to take into consideration all the challenges associated with this innovative way of providing care. This virtual technology has had an exponential growth, especially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, because it delivers great outcomes and suggests exciting future promises.

METHODS

The study involved the collection of responses from an online questionnaire comprising 26 questions that was distributed to healthcare professionals in Romania.

RESULTS

The questionnaire was completed by a number of 1017 healthcare professionals. We investigated and analyzed whether telehealth is seen as an important constituent of the healthcare system, if it is perceived as necessary, safe, well-managed by lawmakers, and easy to use, what advantages it has, what common practices specialists already employ and, additionally, the openness toward becoming more digitally educated for the purpose of streamlining the use of telemedicine.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper reports on the perception of telemedicine among healthcare professionals in Romania, as constructive feedback represents an essential piece of the puzzle in assuring the smooth transition toward this facet of modern healthcare.

Revitalising cancer trials post-pandemic: time for reform

The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant risk to the health of cancer patients, compromised standard cancer care and interrupted clinical cancer trials, prompting dramatic streamlining of services. From this health crisis has emerged the opportunity to carry forward an unexpected legacy of positive reforms to clinical cancer research, where conventionally convoluted approvals processes, inefficient trial design, procedures and data gathering could benefit from the lessons in rationalisation learned during the pandemic.

Best Practices for Providing Patient-Centered Tele-Palliative Care to Cancer Patients

Cancer patients receiving palliative care may face significant challenges in attending outpatient appointments. Patients on controlled substances such as opioids require frequent visits and often rely on assistive devices and/or a caregiver to accompany them to these visits. In addition, pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath may magnify the challenges associated with in-person visits. The rapid adoption of telemedicine in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be highly beneficial for advanced cancer patients and caregivers. The hurried COVID-19-related implementation of telemedicine is now evolving into a permanent platform for providing palliative care. This review will focus on the best practices and recommendations to deliver high-quality, interdisciplinary tele-palliative care.