TABLE 1.
Baseline Demographic Parameters, Feasibility, Patient‐Centered Outcomes, and Impact of Telehepatology Services
| Parameter | All Surveyed Patients (n = 210) | Satisfied (n = 179) | Unsatisfied (n = 31) | P Value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 46 (35‐56) | 46 (35‐56) | 46 (35‐50) | 0.751 |
| Male : female | 142:68 | 119:60 | 23:08 | 0.397 |
| Socioeconomic status (MKS) | ||||
| Upper class | 3 (1.4) | 2 (1.1) | 1 (3.2) | 0.597 |
| Upper middle class | 56 (26.7) | 50 (27.9) | 6 (19.4) | |
| Lower middle class | 75 (35.7) | 64 (35.8) | 11 (35.5) | |
| Upper lower class | 76 (36.2) | 63 (35.2) | 13 (41.9) | |
| Lower class | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Population (rural : urban) | 128:82 | 106:73 | 22:09 | 0.216 |
| Comorbidities present | 73 (34.8) | 59 (32.9) | 14 (45.2) | 0.467 |
| Diagnosis | ||||
| Cirrhosis | 78 (37.1) | 66 (36.9) | 12 (38.7) | |
| Compensated cirrhosis | 14 (17.9) | 13 (19.7) | 1 (8.30 | |
| Decompensated cirrhosis | 64 (82.1) | 53 (80.3) | 11 (91.7) | 0.787 |
| Cirrhosis with HCC | 24 (11.4) | 19 (10.6) | 5 (16.1) | |
| Chronic viral hepatitis | 68 (32.4) | 60 (33.5) | 8 (25.8) | |
| NAFLD | 16 (7.6) | 14 (7.8) | 2 (6.5) | |
| ALD | 4 (1.9) | 4 (2.2) | 0 (0.0) | |
| NCPH | 4 (1.9) | 3 (1.7) | 1 (3.2) | |
| Acute hepatitis | 10 (4.8) | 9 (5.0) | 1 (3.2) | |
| EHBO | 11(5.3) | 9 (5.0) | 2 (6.5) | |
| Others | 19 (9.0) | 14 (7.8) | 5 (16.1) | |
| Hepatology consultation | ||||
| First time | 101 (48.1) | 87 (48.4) | 14 (45.2) | 0.783 |
| Follow‐up | 109 (51.9) | 92 (51.4) | 17 (54.8) | |
| Mode of communication | ||||
| Audio call | 114 (54.3) | 99 (55.3) | 15 (48.4) | 0.559 |
| Hybrid (audio and video) call | 96 (45.7) | 80 (44.7) | 16 (51.6) | |
| Source of information for teleconsultation | ||||
| Health care worker | ||||
| Relatives/friends | 108 (51.4) | 90 (50.3) | 18 (58.1) | 0.679 |
| Internet | 51 (24.3) | 46 (25.7) | 5 (16.1) | |
| Newspaper | 27 (12.9) | 22 (12.3) | 5(16.1) | |
| 24 (11.4) | 21 (11.7) | 3 (9.7) | ||
| Notification rate | 205 (97.6) | 176 (98.3) | 29 (93.5) | 0.759 |
| Compliance to treatment | 173 (82.4) | 151 (84.4) | 22 (71.1) | 0.071 |
| Suitability rate | 173 (82.4) | 163 (91.1) | 23 (74.2) | 0.006 |
| Unexpected return rate | 41 (19.6) | 14 (7.8) | 27 (87.1) | <0.001 |
| Patient preference during COVID‐19 | ||||
| Telemedicine | 176 (83.8) | 153 (85.5) | 23 (74.2) | 0.115 |
| Physical OPD | 34 (16.2) | 26 (14.5) | 8 (25.8) | |
| Patient preference if no COVID‐19 | ||||
| Telemedicine | 56 (26.7) | 54 (30.2) | 2 (6.5) | |
| Physical OPD | 133 (63.3) | 107 (59.8) | 26 (83.9) | 0.018 |
| Both | 21 (10) | 18 (10.1) | 3(9.7) | |
| Patient comfort level | ||||
| Very uncomfortable | 12 (5.7) | 0 (0.0 | 12 (38.7) | |
| Somewhat uncomfortable | 2 (0.9) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (6.5) | <0.001 |
| Neither | 18 (8.6) | 6 (3.4) | 12 (38.7) | |
| Somewhat comfortable | 49 (23.3) | 46 (25.7) | 3 (9.7) | |
| Very comfortable | 129 (61.4) | 127 (70.9) | 2 (6.5) | |
| Acceptability/satisfaction rate | ||||
| Very dissatisfied | 13 (6.2) | 0 (0.0) | 13 (41.9) | |
| Somewhat dissatisfied | 1 (0.5) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.2) | |
| Neither | 17 (8.1) | 0 (0.0) | 17 (54.8) | <0.001 |
| Somewhat satisfied | 52 (24.8) | 52 (29.1) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Very satisfied | 127 (60.5) | 127 (70.9) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Level of understanding | ||||
| Very poor | 8 (3.8) | 0 (0.0) | 8 (25.8) | |
| Somewhat poor | 1 (0.5) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.2) | |
| Neither | 24 (11.4) | 7 (3.9) | 17 (54.8) | <0.001 |
| Somewhat good | 41 (19.5) | 38 (21.2) | 3 (9.7) | |
| Very good | 139 (66.2) | 134 (74.9) | 2 (6.5) | |
| Improvement rate | 104 (49.5) | 97 (54.2) | 7 (22.6) | 0.001 |
| Diagnosis rate | 197 (94.0) | 170 (95.0) | 27 (87.1) | 0.093 |
| Success rate | 97 (46.2) | 97 (54.2) | 0 (0.0) | <0.001 |
| QOL improvement | ||||
| Physical | 141 (67.1%) | 125 (69.8) | 16 (51.6) | 0.046 |
| Mental | 174 (82.8%) | 168 (93.9) | 6 (19.4) | <0.001 |
Data are presented as median (IQR), n (%).
*P < 0.05 was regarded as significant.
Abbreviations: ALD, alcohol‐associated liver disease; EHBO, extrahepatic biliary obstruction; NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; NCPH, noncirrhotic portal hypertension.