Patient preference of teleconsultation use for colorectal cancer surveillance care

Teleconsultations have been widely incorporated in healthcare, with potential for use in colorectal cancer (CRC) surveillance consultations and delivery of test/scan results. This study examines post-operative CRC patients preferences of using teleconsultations for different surveillance consultations.
100 post-operative CRC patients ranked 4 communication methods (hospital/polyclinic in-person, telephone, video call) according to preference for several CRC consultations (post-operative review, delivering normal/abnormal histology, imaging or blood test/scan results). 18 patients were interviewed discussing why teleconsultations were (un)acceptable for specific care types. Interviews were transcribed and analysed inductively.
Chi-square analyses revealed higher preference of teleconsultations for normal histology, imaging and blood test/scan results (X2=10.24, 14.44, 21.16 respectively, all p<.05). Patients cited that information conveyance can easily be completed through calls, saving time and trouble. Expectedly, more patients preferred in-person consultations for abnormal histology, imaging and blood test/scan results (X2=16.00, 16.00, 4.84 respectively, all p<.05). Patients expressed that physical presence of doctors, gesturing and observations of non-verbal cues during in-person consultations brought a sense of assurance. There was no difference in preference for post-operative reviews.
Our findings highlight the possibility of incorporating teleconsultations for CRC surveillance while retaining patient satisfaction - giving patients flexibility to interchange between communication methods depending on their surveillance needs. Further research evaluating teleconsultation use for CRC surveillance should consider cost-effectiveness of teleconsultations, ensuring benefits for both patients and healthcare institutions.