Beschreibung:
<jats:p> 265 </jats:p><jats:p> Background: Healthcare delivery via telemedicine has increased substantially amid COVID-19. The George Washington Cancer Center (GWCC) now provides cancer care services via tele-visits for patients at high risk of morbidity and mortality secondary to COVID-19. This study was performed to assess usability of virtual cancer care delivery for patients and providers across specialties. Methods: Participants included patients and providers surveyed to assess baseline usability after initiating tele-visits. Surveys included demographics, Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ), and questions on perceived safety and preferences around telemedicine. Subjects also provided open-ended feedback for quality improvement. Results: For patients (n = 105), 96% of surveys sent were completed and analyzed. Most patients were ages 50-59 (22%), 60-69 (25%), 70-79 (25%). Breast cancer (38%) was the most commonly reported cancer type. Median patient TUQ scores were: 5/5 for Interaction Quality (ItQ) and Ease of Use (EU), 4/5 for Usefulness (U), Interface Quality (IfQ) and Satisfaction (S), and 3/5 for Reliability (R). No association was found between TUQ scores and age groups (p = 0.15), sex (p = 0.69), or timing of diagnosis in relation to telemedicine visit (p = 0.67). Compared to in-person visits, 70% of patients agreed/strongly agreed that telemedicine made them feel safer, 63% agreed/strongly agreed that it reduced stress, and 59% expressed interest in using it with other medical specialties. For providers (n = 85), 88% of surveys sent were completed and analyzed. Most providers were ages 30-39 (37%), 50-59 (23%), and 47% had 50 or more experiences with telemedicine. The predominant specialty participating was Internal Medicine (31%). Median provider TUQ scores were 4/5 for ItQ, EU, U, IfQ and S, and 2/5 for R. No association was found between TUQ scores and experience with telemedicine (p = 0.31), though providers aged 60-79 had significantly more negative views of telemedicine (p = 0.02) as compared to other age groups. The majority (97%) agreed/strongly agreed that telemedicine improves access to care, yet 57% expressed concern about missing something they may have caught in person. Conclusions: The use of telemedicine in cancer care was perceived favorably by patients and providers. All patient groups scored highly on perceived safety, reduced stress and improved access, independently of subject characteristics. Providers demonstrated some dissent, particularly in older age groups. These findings provide a useful benchmark for advancement of virtual care delivery in cancer care. </jats:p>