@Article{info:doi/10.2196/15598,
author="O'Cathail, Micheal
and Aznar-Garcia, Luis
and Sivanandan, Ananth
and Diver, Claire
and Patel, Poulam
and Tang, Pui-Shan
and Christian, Judith",
title="Use of Teleconsultations in a Regional Stereotactic Radiosurgery Service: Pilot Study",
journal="JMIR Form Res",
year="2021",
month="Feb",
day="5",
volume="5",
number="2",
pages="e15598",
keywords="telemedicine; teleconsultations; brain metastases; stereotactic radiosurgery; mobile phone",
abstract="Background: The National Health Service Long Term Plan details plans to make digital interactions available to all patients in 5 years. Teleconsultations can improve access to specialist services; however, there is a lack of evidence for the use of teleconsultations in an oncology setting in the United Kingdom. Objective: We aim to describe a service evaluation of teleconsultations for patients attending a regional brain metastases clinic. These patients have unique travel restrictions that prevent them from driving. Methods: From April to October 2018, all patients attending the brain metastases clinic were offered the choice of teleconsultation in place of a face-to-face appointment. Feedback was assessed using a satisfaction questionnaire, and data of all clinic attendances were collected. Results: A total of 69 individual patients had 119 appointments over the duration of the pilot, of which 36 (30.2{\%}) were new patient appointments and 73 (61.3{\%}) were follow-ups. Of the 69 patients, 24 (35{\%}) took part in teleconsultations (41/119, 34.5{\%}). User satisfaction was high, and no patients who took part in a teleconsultation reverted to face-to-face appointments. These patients avoided 2521 miles (61.6 miles per appointment) of hospital-associated travel and travel costs of {\textsterling}441.48 (US {\$}599.83) to {\textsterling}10.78 (US {\$}14.65) per appointment. Conclusions: Teleconsultations appear to be acceptable in this cohort of patients with brain metastases attending a regional stereotactic radiosurgery service with the potential for significant savings in travel and expenses. ",
issn="2561-326X",
doi="10.2196/15598",
url="http://formative.jmir.org/2021/2/e15598/",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/15598",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33544082"
}