Patient and healthcare professional perspectives on telehealth in the care of interstitial lung disease

Abstract

Background: While telehealth has been used for specialist care during the COVID-19 pandemic, its benefits and barriers to use for delivering care in interstitial lung disease (ILD) remain unclear. We aimed to explore perspectives of patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) towards telehealth use in ILD. Method: This qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was undertaken in 18 patients with ILD from a single quaternary ILD centre and 18 HCPs of four different disciplines from various ILD centres around Australia. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded by two investigators independently using thematic analysis. Themes were developed by consensus. Results: Patients and HCPs had experienced telehealth via video and telephone, predominantly for teleconsultation and/or telerehabilitation. For patients, benefits included provision of ongoing access to healthcare and significant reduction in travel. Healthcare professionals reported teleconsultations played an important role in patient follow-up rather than at initial contact. Concerns of suboptimal rapport and communication and a lack of physical examination were raised by both groups. Individual patient suitability, improvement in technological platform and support, and improved workflow for clinicians were important factors for utilisation of telehealth. Patients were open to the use of home monitoring devices, however, HCPs felt further research was required prior to clinical implementation. Conclusion: This study highlights positive and negative experiences of telehealth for patients and HCPs in the management of ILD. It also identifies areas for improvement to create a tailored telehealth model for ILD care.