Preference for Telehealth Sustained Over Three Months at an Outpatient Center for Integrative Medicine

Abstract

Background: Integrative medicine is a key framework for the treatment of chronic medical conditions, particularly chronic pain conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted rapid implementation of telehealth services. Objective: We present outcomes of a complete and rapid transition to telehealth visits at an outpatient integrative medicine center in the Southeastern United States. Method: Patients and administrative staff took surveys comparing telehealth to in-person visits within four weeks of our clinic's transition to telehealth and three months later. Beginning four weeks after the clinic’s telehealth conversion in March 2020, patients who had a telehealth visit at the center completed a survey about their telehealth experience and another survey three months later. Results: Patient quality judgements significantly favored telehealth at baseline, B =.77 [0.29 – 1.25], SE =.25, t(712) = 3.15, p =.002, and increased at three months, B =.27 [–0.03 – 0.57], SE =.15, t(712) = 1.76, p =.079. Telehealth technology usability and distance from the center predicted patient ratings of telehealth favorability. Providers favored in-person visits more than patients, B = –1.00 [–1.56 – –0.44], SE =.29, t(799) = –3.48, p