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Despite the increased implementation of virtual health care in certain clinical settings, many Black adults expressed a preference for traditional in-person visits, in part because of a perceived lack of interpersonal connection in the virtual setting, according to recent qualitative study results published in The Oncologist.
Nonetheless, one critical aspect of ensuring equitable access to care is the retention of reimbursement options for audio-only virtual visits. Audio-only virtual appointments cater to patients with limited technology proficiency or restricted access to devices and the Internet and could support inclusive healthcare solutions.
The swift adoption of virtual oncology care in response to the COVID-19 pandemic exposed pronounced sociodemographic disparities in access to virtual visits. In an effort to gain deeper insights into these inequalities, researchers conducted a qualitative study focusing on the experiences and perspectives of Black adults with a cancer diagnosis to elucidate their views on the usability and acceptability of virtual visits.
A total of 49 adults who self-identified as Black and had a diagnosis of prostate, multiple myeloma, or head and neck cancer were recruited from 2 academic medical centers and their community affiliates in North Carolina and Michigan to participate in interviews. The interview was semi-structured and were conducted regardless of patients’ prior experience with virtual visits.
Interviews, conducted between September 2, 2021, and February 23, 2022, produced transcripts that were organized by topic, with themes and subthemes determined across cycles of assessment.
Among the 49 interviewed patients, 29 (59%) had participated in at least 1 virtual visit. Overarching themes that emerged were threefold: virtual visits felt comfortable and convenient in certain contexts; the technology required for virtual visits with video presented distinct challenges that were frequently overcome with audio-only phone calls; and patients stated that they preferred in-person visits, citing challenges with nonverbal communication in the virtual setting, improved trust in healthcare providers in person, and challenges with distractions during virtual visits.
The ongoing transformation of oncology care through technology underscores the existence of sociodemographic disparities in the expansion of virtual visits. Black patients tend to use virtual visits less frequently.
Results from this study indicate Black patients express a nuanced perspective on virtual care, acknowledging that virtual visits may have their merits in specific contexts but expressing a strong inclination for in-person interactions. Additionally, Black adults emphasized the importance of retaining telephone-only options, both to cater to those without video visit capabilities and also as a backup plan should technical issues arise during virtual consultations.
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Disclosures: This research was supported by Genentech. Some study authors declared affiliations with biotech, pharmaceutical, and/or device companies. Please see the original reference for a full list of disclosures.
Reference
Tam S, Neslund-Dudas C, Barrett AM, et al. The perceived usability of virtual visits among Black adults’ receiving oncology care: a qualitative analysis. Oncologist. Published online September 26, 2023. doi:10.1093/oncolo/oyad260
