Table 5.

Themes and Quotes From Open-Ended Questions

1. Why would it have been your preference for the visit type you chose (either telemedicine or in-person)?
In-person preference
Interpersonal (building relationships, communications, preference for face-to-face, need for reassurance)	“Best to build relationship and ask questions”
	“I like in person because I like more personal situations”
	“Easier to communicate”
	“You can find out more. Face to face means more than over telephone (or any device)”
	“The face to face was encouraging”
	“Reassurance that everything is right”
Physical exam concerns (need for hands-on)	“Because I want a live 1 on 1 visit when it comes to my health. The doc can’t feel any issues over a device”
	“Doctor can examine if needed (and do an ekg)”
Type of visit/stage of treatment	“First visit. Follow up visits could be telemedicine”
	“1st Post hospital visit”
	“Long time since last seen”
	“Because of my recent surgery”
Severity of illness	“My injury is serious and I needed to know they think everything is going well”
	“Because of how sick I was before the surgery and the type of surgery”
Technology	“Too difficult to work a computer”
	“No internet or WiFi access”
Dual scheduling of other services	“Wanting to get flu shot”
	“Already here to see a different doctor”
	“We had scans”
1. Why would it have been your preference for the visit type you chose (either telemedicine or in-person)?
Telemedicine preference
Interpersonal (existing relationship with physician, need for a driver)	“Being on the upside of my injury me and my doctors have good understanding of each other and knowing that if there was a thought that something was wrong I’d already had let them know”
	“I have to have someone else take off work to drive us”
Type of visit/stage of treatment	“Today was just a quick checkup”
	“There wasn’t a hands on need for me to be seen in clinic today. We just discussed medication”
	“The drive is crazy for a 15 minute appointment”
Recent travel for other appointments	“Distance to drive and I had an appointment at Barnes yesterday but they could not get both appointments on the same day”
Savings (time, distance, expense, safety)	“Telemedicine would save on gas, time, and definitely be safer due to all the construction we drive thru on the way here”
	“Telemedicine is convenient for us due to neither one of us are working because of my medical condition and assistant needed. So no income it hard to just up and go places as often as needed”
	“Travel time and expense”
Convenience	“More convenient”
	“Faster and easier”
	“Much less planning…had to change other standing appts”
	“Less stress due to feeling sick”
2. What questions do you have about telemedicine?
In-person preference
General	“What it involves”
Types of visits	“Will this take the place of consultation visits?”
	“Would this be just for general questions and filling prescriptions?”
	“Could it be used intermittently”
Efficacy	“How can a doctor truly evaluate your condition?”
Technology	“How technologically familiar do you have to be to do this”
	“How to use technology”
	“None my daughter will help me”
Strong feelings	“NONE! Don’t like it and I won’t use it!”
Telemedicine preference
None (no responses)	.
3. What concerns do you have about telemedicine, if any?
In-person preference
Efficacy/accuracy	“See previous question. Accuracy”
	“Might miss a problem”
	“The newness and not being face to face, can’t see whole body during visit”
	“People lying to the doctor”
	“Not getting hands on with drs to see you in person if something was wrong”
Privacy	“Privacy”
Technology	“Internet connection”
Logistics	“May be dealing with too many differant people”
	“Will they be less likely to follow up”
Strong feelings	“Not interested”
Telemedicine preference
Efficacy	“Inability to perform a proper exam”
Privacy	“Privacy”
Procedures	“Removing a PICC line”

Abbreviation: PICC, peripherally inserted central catheter.