Surgeon Personal Factors Associated with Care Strategies in Musculoskeletal Telehealth

Background: Most surgeons used, or are currently using telehealth during the SARS-CoV-۲ (COVID-۱۹) pandemic.We studied surgeon personal factors associated with relative use of telehealth during the worldwide height of thepandemic.Questions/Purposes: (۱) Are there any personal factors/characteristics associated with use and utilization of telehealth?(۲) What are surgeon’s perspectives/ opinions with regard to use of telehealth for five common upper extremityconditions in terms of future prospects and viability?Methods: Hand and upper extremity surgeons in the Science of Variation Group (SOVG) were invited to participate ina web-based survey. The first part of the survey focused on surgeon characteristics and work preferences. The secondpart focused on care strategies during the pandemic and utilization of telehealth. The final part of the survey addressedthe care of five common upper extremity conditions during the pandemic.Results: Ninety percent of surgeons used telehealth during the first few months of the pandemic, but only ۲۰% ofvisits were virtual. A greater percentage of telehealth visits compared to office visits was independently associated witha policy of only seeing people with emergencies in person (RC: ۰.۶۴; CI ۹۵%: ۰.۲۱ to ۱.۱; P<۰.۰۱). Surgeons foundit difficult to reproduce most parts of the physical examination on video, but relatively easy to make a diagnosis, withboth ratings associated with less belief that the physical exam is essential. Comfort in offering surgery by video visitwas associated with having young children, preference for remote meetings, and less belief that the physical exam isessential.Conclusion: Utilization of, and comfort with, telehealth is related to personal factors and preferences, acceptance ofa more limited physical examination in particular. Utilization of early adopters and training to increase comfort with theprobabilistic aspects of medicine could facilitate incorporation of telehealth into standard practice.Level of evidence: N/a

Keywords:

Handsurgery , orthopaedic surgery , Telehealth , Telemedicine