Table 2.
Prescriber-reported changes to the delivery of HIV services during COVID-19.
| Prescribers (N = 32), n (%) |
||
|---|---|---|
| PLWH | IAR | |
| Hospital/clinic visits | ||
| Patient load in a typical month, mean ± SD, n | ||
| Before COVID-19 | 178.8 ± 148.4 | 19.7 ± 18.6 |
| During COVID-19 | 183.3 ± 149.7 | 16.3 ± 18.1 |
| Changes to the frequency of visits | ||
| More frequent | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Same | 22 (68.8) | 13 (40.6) |
| Less frequent | 8 (25.0) | 18 (56.3) |
| Delayed or rescheduled due to closure of clinics | 2 (6.3) | 1 (3.1) |
| Changes in consultation time per visit | ||
| Longer | 1 (3.1) | 0 (0) |
| Same | 29 (90.6) | 30 (93.8) |
| Shorter | 2 (6.3) | 2 (6.3) |
| HIV-related testing | ||
| Changes to the access to routine HIV-related testing | ||
| Increased | 0 (0) | 1 (3.1) |
| Remained the same | 22 (68.8) | 18 (56.3) |
| Decreased | 10 (31.3) | 13 (40.6) |
| Medications | ||
| Changes to the frequency of refilling ART/preventive medications | N = 31† | |
| More frequent | 4 (12.5) | 1 (3.2) |
| Same | 19 (59.4) | 14 (45.2) |
| Less frequent | 9 (28.1) | 16 (51.6) |
| Reasons behind the change | N = 13 | N = 17 |
| Patient's willingness/preference | 6 (46.2) | 7 (41.2) |
| Level of ART stock in hospitals/clinics/pharmacies | 1 (7.7) | 1 (5.9) |
| People's modified risky/unsafe practicesa | – | 5 (29.4) |
| Travel constraints | 5 (38.5) | 8 (47.1) |
| Other | 2 (15.4) | 3 (17.7) |
| Adoption of telehealth services | ||
| Types of telehealth services provided during COVID-19 | ||
| Phone consultation | 2 (6.3) | |
| Video consultation | 11 (34.4) | |
| Refill medications remotely | 14 (43.8) | |
| Other | 1 (3.1) | |
| None of the above | 12 (37.5) | |
| Anticipated adoption of telehealth services in the future | ||
| Increase | 23 (71.9) | |
| No change | 8 (25.0) | |
| Decrease | 1 (3.1) | |
| Main drivers for an anticipated increase in the use of telehealth services in the future | N = 23 | |
| Improve clinical workflows and efficiency | 19 (82.6) | |
| Able to reach more patients | 14 (60.9) | |
| Convenient and timesaving | 13 (56.5) | |
| Reduce the spread of illness | 11 (47.8) | |
| Reduce overheads and cut costs | 5 (21.7) | |
ART, antiretroviral therapy; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; IAR, individuals at risk; PLWH, people living with HIV; SD, standard deviation.
a
This option was only applicable to IAR. † Only 31 prescribers had prescribed preventive medication prior to the pandemic.