Table 2.
Patient-reported advantages and disadvantages of remote telegenetic services.
| Coded themesa | Representative quotes | After pretest counseling (V1b), n (%) | Post- disclosure (V2c), n (%) |
|
|
What did you like about receiving your GC
d
by telemedicine?
(V1 n=51; V2 n=36) e |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reduced travel burden | “Telemedicine made it easier to consider genetic testing. I would not have made the effort to travel to another city for testing.” “I could not have physically traveled to speak to a genetic counselor in person due to my present condition, so for me the telemedicine made genetic counseling possible.” |
31 (61) | 22 (61) |
|
|
Convenience/ease | “I was able to combine with my hospital visit.” “It was easy, convenient, and stress free.” |
23 (45) | 8 (22) |
|
|
Informative | “The genetic counselor was very helpful, informative, and thorough.” | 7 (14) | 5 (14) |
|
|
Efficient | “I didn't have to wait like I would in a doctor's office.” | 4 (8) | 5 (14) |
|
|
Personalized | “I enjoyed the one-on-one session. It felt personal and all about me.” | 3 (6) | 0 (0) |
|
|
Good experience | “It was my first time utilizing telemedicine. It was a good experience.” | 2 (4) | 4 (11) |
|
|
Ability to receive services in local facility | “Being able to receive all information locally with my physician present was much better.” | 0 (0) | 3 (8) |
| What did you dislike about receiving your genetic counseling by telemedicine? (V1 n=46; V2 n=32) f |
|
|
|
|
|
|
No dislikes |
|
36 (78) | 28 (88) |
|
|
Technical difficulties | “It was a little hard to hear...my voice would echo so it made it a little difficult to answer the questions.” “There was a tech glitch in the beginning but it was fixed. I was concerned that it wouldn't be resolved.” |
8 (17) | 3 (9) |
|
|
Less personal | “It was strange not being able to make actual eye contact.” “It was uncomfortable and not personable.” |
2 (4) | 2 (6) |
| Is there anything you would have changed about receiving your genetic counseling by telemedicine? (V1 n=47; V2 n=36) g |
|
|
|
|
|
|
No changes |
|
43 (91) | 35 (97) |
|
|
Improve technology | “Better sound and eye contact from the counselor.” “Better technology.” |
2 (4) | 0 (0) |
|
|
Improve visual illustrations | “Make sure the items on the slides are in view.” | 3 (6) | 1 (3) |
aResponses could be coded for multiple reasons. Themes reported <2 times are not shown.
bV1: visit 1.
cV2: visit 2.
dGC: genetic counseling.
eThere were 6 and 5 nonrespondents post-V1 and post-V2, respectively (original V1 n=57; V2 n=41).
fThere were 11 and 9 nonrespondents post-V1 and post-V2, respectively (original V1 n=57; V2 n=41).
gThere were 10 and 5 nonrespondents post-V1 and post-V2, respectively (original V1 n=57; V2 n=41).