Patients at Tampa, Fla.-based Moffitt Cancer Center prefer virtual to in-person visits for cancer care, the organization found.
The patients said providers showed more concern via telehealth (90.7 percent vs. 84.2 percent) while telemedicine improved their access to care (75.8 percent vs. 62.5 percent). Moffitt surveyed 39,268 patients between April 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. The research was published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Center Network.
"Telemedicine visits can often be incorporated in patients' day-to-day schedule so they can complete their appointments at convenient times such as before or after work, or during a break," said Philippe Spiess, MD, a study co-author and medical director of virtual care at Moffitt, in a May 9 news release. "It gives them flexibility and ultimately increases convenience and access."
Dr. Spiess noted that telehealth may not be appropriate for every patient or type of visit. Moffitt continues to expand its virtual offerings, integrating scheduling, technical support and interpreter services.
The cancer center previously published research that telemedicine can save cancer patients time and reduce carbon emissions.