Table 4 Benefits and costs associated with telemedicine
Themes | Illustrative quotations |
|---|---|
Benefits | |
Convenience: Travel | • “I really like not having to travel to the clinic and sit around waiting for a long time to see the doctor.” (P33, PwALS) |
Convenience: Other | • “[Telemedicine] is much easier than getting up, showered, dressed, and ready to drive to morning appointments.” (P1, Caregiver) |
Access to health professionals | • “All I do is phone up and I am given a date and time when the doctor will call me.” (P51, Caregiver) |
Costs | |
Unmet physical needs | • “My concern is that virtual appointments can’t include updated respiratory testing to see if carbon dioxide retention is an issue yet, or a neurologist’s physical or clinical assessment and tests for progression.” (P52, Caregiver) |
Functional communication barriers | • Usually, I prepare a full page of condition status, issues, and questions. I can’t speak but my wife would be my voice. This time, given the format [telephone], I didn’t bother.” (P49, PwALS) |
Personal interactions | • “I definitely prefer face-to-face interaction. I think I enjoy the face-to-face interaction more than I realized.” (P70, PwALS) |