Satisfaction With Telehealth Among Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome During COVID-19: Cross-Sectional Survey Findings.

Yu, Christine MD 1; Tovar, Stephanie MS 2; Shi, Jiaxiao PhD 2; Padilla, Ariadna MBA 2; Pounds, Dana MS 2; van Deen, Welmoed K. MD, PhD 3,4,5; Almario, Christopher V. MD, MSHPM 3; Wu, Bechien U. MD, MPH 1,2

doi : 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000515

Volume 13(9) pgs. e00515 September 2022

AB INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 rapidly shifted health care toward telehealth. We assessed satisfaction with and preferences for telehealth among patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in an integrated healthcare system in Southern California with members aged 18-90 years with an International Classification of Diseases 9 and 10 codes for IBS from office-based encounters between June 1, 2018, and June 1, 2020. Eligible patients were emailed a survey assessing telehealth satisfaction overall and by patient-related factors, IBS characteristics, health and technologic literacy, utilization, and coronavirus disease 2019 perceptions. We identified perceived telehealth benefits and challenges. Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of telehealth dissatisfaction. RESULTS: Of 44,789 surveys sent, 5,832 (13.0%) patients responded and 1,632 (3.6%) had Rome IV IBS. Among 1,314 (22.5%) patients with IBS and prior telehealth use (mean age 52.6 years [17.4]; 84.9% female; and 59.4% non-Hispanic White, 29.0% Hispanic, and 5.6% non-Hispanic Black), 898 (68.3%) were satisfied, 130 (9.9%) were dissatisfied, and 286 (21.8%) felt neutral. In addition, 78.6% would use telehealth again. Independent predictors of telehealth dissatisfaction include social media use of once a week or less (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.1; 1.3-3.5), duration of IBS for <1 year (adjusted OR = 8.2; 1.9-35.8), and willingness to travel 60 plus minutes for face-to-face visits (adjusted OR = 2.6; 1.4-3.7). Patients' main concern with telehealth was a lack of physical examination. DISCUSSION: Most of the patients with IBS are satisfied with telehealth. Shorter duration of IBS diagnosis, comfort with technology, and increased willingness to travel were associated with telehealth dissatisfaction. These predictors may help identify a target population for a focused IBS-telehealth program. (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American College of Gastroenterology

Buy The Package and View The Article Online