Telehealth closing racial/ethnic disparities? Increased adherence with remote symptom monitoring using patient-reported outcomes (PROs) among Black and Hispanic patients with telemedicine compared to in-person visits.

Authors

Ishwaria M. Subbiah

Ishwaria M Subbiah

MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Organizations

MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Research Funding

Other Foundation
American Cancer Society, the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation, Cancer and Aging Research Group (CARG) R21/R33 Infrastructure Grant.

Background: Adherence with remote PROs in the real-world, non-clinical trial setting remains varied in pts with cancer. The rapid widespread telehealth into routine healthcare delivery raises concern for disparate impact on race/ethnic minorities. In this study, we sought to understand the impact of telehealth via electronic health record (EHR) on pt adherence with PRO-based remote symptom monitoring implemented through that same EHR portal. Methods: We queried a prospective institutional database of all PROs remotely delivered to our pts bw 1/1/18 - 12/31/21. Pts were divided into 2 time cohorts (pre-pandemic 1/1/18 to 3/31/20, mid-pandemic 4/1/20 to 12/31/21), their self-identified race/ethnicity, and age cohorts (AYA 15-39y, midage 40-64y, older adults 65y+). Then, one representative global symptom burden PRO measure used across different clinics was analyzed for completion in a representative month over 4 years, 2 pre- (Oct ’18, ‘19) and 2 mid-pandemic (Oct ’20, ‘21). We calculated descriptive statistics and compared (t-test, ANOVA) between time, race/ethnicity and age cohorts and independent variables. Results: Over 4 years, 93,875 unique patients received 1+ EHR-based remote PROs within their routine cancer care. Remote EHR-based PRO response rate almost doubled from pre-pandemic (35%, 12011 responders of 34742 pts) to mid-pandemic time (67%, 39812 of 59200 pts, p < 0.00001). Analysis of one global symptom burden PRO widely used at our institution pre- and during pandemic showed the response rates rising (56.7% pre-pandemic vs 84.9% mid-pandemic, p 0.0004) with the sharp rise traced to 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2020 (response rate, 42.4% vs 85%, p < 0.001), with the transition to telehealth. Within the representative 4m period, 2738 pts (1075 pts in 2 pre- & 1663 in 2 mid-pandemic months) were sent that PRO – median age 60y, range 17-94y; 290 AYA 15-39y, 1444 midage 40-64y, 1004 older adults 65y+. PRO response rate increased (52% pre- to 81% mid-pandemic) w more responding without reminders from clinic team (13% pre-pandemic to 79% mid, p < 0.001). Older adults saw the highest increases in PRO response rates up by 35% vs AYA up by 21% & midage up 27%, p 0.012). Response rate without clinic reminders increased significantly (AYA, by 71%, midage by 78%, senior by 61%, p < 0.00001). When further analyzing by visit type during pandemic, the increased PRO response rates are driven by telehealth where in-person PRO completion decreased by 19% (pre-pandemic 52%, during 33%) while pts who had an upcoming virtual visit had 94% PRO response rate (p < 0.00001). Conclusions: Pt adherence w PRO-based remote symptom monitoring increased during the pandemic due to telehealth with the greatest gains seen in racial/ethinic minorities, inc. Black and Hispanic patients with cancer.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2022 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B

Track

Palliative and Supportive Care,Technology and Innovation in Quality of Care,Quality, Safety, and Implementation Science

Sub Track

Impact of Telemedicine

Citation

J Clin Oncol 40, 2022 (suppl 28; abstr 392)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2022.40.28_suppl.392

Abstract #

392

Poster Bd #

E31

Abstract Disclosures