Artikel
Readiness of patients with malignant brain tumours for video-based online visits and medical assessments
Bereitschaft von Patienten mit malignen Hirntumoren zur Inanspruchnahme von online Video-Sprechstunden
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Autoren
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Carolin Weiß-Lucas
- Universitätsklinikum Köln, Zentrum für Neurochirurgie, Köln, Deutschland
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Luisa Dechange
- Universitätsklinikum Köln, Zentrum für Neurochirurgie, Köln, Deutschland
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Johanna Jost
- Universitätsklinikum Münster, Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Münster, Deutschland
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Kristina Jonas
- Universität zu Köln, Humanwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Department Heilpädagogik und Rehabilitation, Köln, Deutschland
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Dorothee Wiewrodt
- Universitätsklinikum Münster, Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Münster, Deutschland
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Roland Goldbrunner
- Universitätsklinikum Köln, Zentrum für Neurochirurgie, Köln, Deutschland
| Veröffentlicht: | 25. Mai 2022 |
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Gliederung
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Objective: Regular follow-up visits are essential to ensure adequate monitoring of brain tumour patients. However, access to such visits can be limited, e.g., due to weak infrastructure or patient co-morbidity. Video-based online visits (OV) have attracted attention as an alternative to in-person visits, especially for patients who otherwise might not be able to attend a regular visit. This survey was conducted to investigate which proportion of malignant brain tumour patients could be reached by OVs, and which factors influence the patients’ motivation to participate in OVs.
Methods: 56 patients with malignant primary brain tumours (m: 48%; median age: 61 yrs) and 56 age- matched control subjects (m: 48%; median age: 64 yrs) participated in the bicentre survey. Motivation, computer/internet skills, mobility, as well as the infrastructure of the patients' residence and its distance to the (treating) neuro-oncological centre were assessed. Moreover, age, gender, and educational level were included in the analysis. Correlations with the patients' ordinally scaled motivational levels (4 levels) were tested by Spearman's correlation using R, and compared with healthy subjects.
Results: The vast majority of patients had access to an appropriate electronic device (96%), mostly including a camera (77%). 79% of patients either had adequate computer skills themselves (54% of total), or another household member was adequately skilled (37% or total). 65% of patients were clearly motivated to participate in OVs, mostly due to the pandemic (51% of total). Only 16% would not accept OVs, another 16% were unsure. In comparison, acceptance of OVs was lower amongst healthy subjects (59% vs. 79% for patients), utmost partly due to a lower rate of electronic device availability (84% vs. 96% for patients).
Patients' lack of motivation was associated with their own lack of computer skills (p=0.04). Moreover, motivational levels were correlated with the distance of the patients' residence from the treating neuro-oncological centre (p=0.01), and were higher amongst patients in reduced general or cognitive clinical status (i.e., Karnofsky Performance Score <70; p=0.02).
Conclusion: The vast majority of patients with malignant brain tumours are willing, sufficiently equipped, and skilled to participate in OVs. Besides the pandemic, obstacles related to analogue visits (long distance from site of residence and reduced clinical status) seem to be the major drivers of patients' willingness to participate in OVs.
