Table 4.
Interviews: comparison of virtual to In-Person Visits (n = 18)
| Code | n(%) | Illustrative Quote(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience | ||
| Convenient | 17 (94) |
"It's way more convenient. I asked for another." "The appointments [without] ultrasounds [are] just check vitals, share any concerns or symptoms, and you’re done. To achieve [that] from… home is pretty nice." |
| No travel | 13 (72) | |
| With respect to work | 8 (44) | |
| With respect to childcare | 7 (39) | |
| Comfort of home | 4 (22) | |
| Little to no wait time | 6 (33) | |
| Productive while wait | 4 (22) | |
| Shorter appointment | 6 (33) | “It feels quicker because you’re not being checked in… and doing the weight and everything with the nurse.” |
| Not convenient | 3 (17) | “It was and wasn’t [convenient], only because it was early morning and I hadn’t taken my daughter to pre-school yet, so I… was distracted by her.” |
| Coordinating childcare | 2 (11) | |
| Appointment timing | 1 (6) | |
| Longer wait | 1 (6) | |
| Tech challenges | 1 (6) | |
| Less stressful | 2 (11) | "Bringing two kids in with me is hard. With one in pre-school, scheduling around that is stressful." |
| Communication | ||
| Comparable | 17 (94) | "He was the same as always- considerate and caring." |
| Empathic (felt cared for) | 17 (94) | "I felt just as checked in on and cared for." |
| Natural with established relationship | 7 (39) | “I could gather her personality, empathy, all of that… [With our] established relationship, it was natural." |
| More personal with video | 5 (28) | "[It's] more personal when you can see their faces. You can see emotion and gauge the conversation." |
| Provider not rushed | 4 (22) | “She’s always patient; she didn’t seem rushed." |
| More focused | 3 (17) | "When you’re on the virtual, it’s more one-on-one [with fewer] distractions. Less interruptions, like people coming in and out of the room." |
| Provider rushed | 2 (11) | "In my first [in-person] visit, she was more calm and thorough. This one she [spoke] fast; it was quick.” |
| Medical Care | ||
| Quick routine visit of comparable quality | 15 (83) |
"I'm being taken care of just as well as if I went into the office… I'm getting the same amount of care." “For routine-type visits, it’s the same.” |
| Questions answered | 10 (56) | "He really took his time and answered [my] questions… it was a really good appointment." |
| Limitations in testing/exam | ||
| No urinalysis | 8 (44) | "I feel more comfortable doing in-person visits because… they take the weight, the urine sample, they are better at finding the [baby’s] heartbeat.” |
| Doppler/blood pressure not by medical professional | 5 (28) | |
| No weight or different scale | 4 (22) | |
| No fundal height | 2 (11) | |
| Clear instructions | 3 (17) | “He gives me the same info I’d [get] in the office.” |
| Same time with provider | 3 (17) | “The time spent with the doctor is comparable.” |
| Sacrificed for convenience | 2 (11) | "I felt like I [gave] up some things… to get the convenience of… home." |