Understanding How COVID-19 Impacted Telehealth and Cancer Screening Services Through Healthcare Provider Perspectives

Abstract

Millions of cancer screenings in the U.S. were missed at the beginning of the COVID –19 pandemic, which also saw the quick implementation of telehealth services. Using a qualitative study design on extracted interviews from Kaiser Permanente’s RESTORE study with healthcare providers and staff, this study explored their perceptions on the evolution of telehealth and cancer screening services as the pandemic progressed. Barriers included inequalities and disparities, lack of financial coverage, and logistics. Facilitators included increased patient accessibility to healthcare providers and increased infrastructural efficiency. Other findings included the effects on cancer screening, the sudden pivot to telehealth, and fluctuations in screening and telehealth use due to vaccines and COVID case spikes. Based on these findings, the following recommendations were made: improving and sustaining telehealth technological support and user-friendly systems, offer translated or language interpreter options, and extending insurance coverage for telehealth and cancer screening services.