TABLE 2.
Patient Reasons for Preferred Visit Type and Recommendations a
| n (%) b | Illustrative quotes | |
|---|---|---|
| Reasons for preferring televisit (n = 45) | ||
| Less expensive | 32 (71) | It is cost‐efficient. |
| Less time involved | 21 (47) |
No waiting for a long time in queues. It is time‐efficient. It's good when you have busy schedules because it is very fast. |
| More privacy | 12 (27) |
Privacy guaranteed. Very private in your own home. |
| More convenient | 8 (18) | |
| Protection from COVID‐19 | 6 (13) | |
| Doctor less distracted and rushed | 5 (11) |
The doctor is not rushing and has all the time to examine the patient. The doctor is not rushing to see another patient. |
| Less stressful | 4 (9) | It's stressful coming to the hospital. |
| Less mobility issues | 3 (7) |
Very good if the patient has difficulties moving. No need to lift the patient. |
| Some problems do not require physical examination | 1 (2) |
Some things you just explain, and the doctor cannot see, so there's no need to be seen in person. |
| Reasons for preferring in‐person visit (n = 13) | ||
| No physical examination | 11 (85) |
I want the doctor to examine him by touch. Because I want to be seen physically. In case I need to show the doctor where I'm experiencing pain. I want the doctor to see and examine fully, not by phone. It's not a normal way to be seen by a doctor. |
| Discomfort communicating on some topics over the telephone | 1 (8) | |
| Visit to the hospital is still required | 1 (8) |
I have to get my medicine from there. |
| Reasons for recommending televisit (n = 50) | ||
| Less expensive | 27 (54) | No expenses to incur. |
| More convenient | 10 (20) | |
| Less time‐consuming | 7 (14) | |
| Better privacy | 5 (10) |
It's good to be reviewed in your own home. It allows patients and carers to ‘open up.’ |
| More comfortable | 3 (6) | It's nice being in your own home. |
| COVID prevention | 2 (4) | Issues of COVID while traveling on the bus. |
| Patient's mobility issues | 1 (2) |
It's good because there's no need of moving the patient. |
| Reasons for not recommending televisit (n = 10) | ||
| No physical examination | 7 (70) |
The doctor is not there to examine the patient. There's no physical contact. |
COVID‐19 = coronavirus disease 2019.
Respondents could give multiple or no responses for each question. Thus, totals may not add to 100% for each section.
Percentages are calculated based on the number of respondents for each preference and their corresponding reasons. That is, 45 respondents preferred televisits, 13 respondents preferred in‐person visits, 50 respondents recommended televisits, and 10 did not recommend televisits.