JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Telehealth utilization expanded rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since become integrated into routine oncology care. However, provider experiences and confidence with telehealth may vary across oncology subspecialties, and these differences remain incompletely characterized.

Objective:

To evaluate telehealth perceptions, decision-making factors, and confidence across oncology providers from multiple specialties at a single academic cancer center.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of oncology providers at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. A 27-item online questionnaire was distributed to attending physicians, fellows, and advanced practice providers across surgical, medical, radiation, and palliative oncology. Survey domains included telehealth coordination, technical quality, communication effectiveness, confidence in remote physical examination, and factors influencing visit modality selection. Quantitative responses were summarized descriptively, and open-ended responses underwent thematic analysis.

Results:

Among 57 respondents, 86.0% were physicians. Specialties included surgical oncology (36.8%), medical oncology (31.6%), radiation oncology (28.1%), and palliative care (3.5%). Telehealth coordination was rated easy or very easy by 79% of providers. Audio and video quality were rated good or very good by 72% and 58%, respectively. Technical issues prompted occasional conversion to audio-only visits for 68% of respondents and frequent conversion for 18%. Communication satisfaction was high (85%), yet only 51% reported confidence in performing a virtual physical examination. The need for physical examination (93%) and patient travel distance (79%) were the most influential factors in offering telehealth visits. Confidence varied by specialty and clinical phase: surgeons reported moderate or high confidence in 43% of pre-operative visits and 71% of post-operative visits; medical oncologists reported 78% confidence pre-chemotherapy and 72% post-chemotherapy; radiation oncologists reported 88% confidence pre-treatment and 94% post-treatment.

Conclusions:

Oncology providers reported generally positive experiences with telehealth, although confidence and utilization patterns varied across specialties and phases of care. Telehealth is viewed as a complementary modality when physical examination is not essential. Improvements in technical reliability and interpreter integration may enhance equitable access and support continued telehealth use in oncology care.