Prospective cohort study evaluates telemedicine's impact on healthcare access and satisfaction in low-income Brazilian women with breast cancer, suggesting enhanced equity.
Key Points
The study aims to assess the effectiveness of a teleconsultation protocol in improving healthcare access for low-income breast cancer patients in Brazil.
Conducted as a prospective cohort study at a tertiary public cancer center with 946 women diagnosed with breast cancer
Collected data on sociodemographic characteristics and patient satisfaction using a validated questionnaire
Evaluated teleconsultation uptake among eligible patients during the study period
51.1% of eligible patients completed teleconsultation after being offered the service
High patient satisfaction with a mean Likert score of 4.65/5 and a Net Promoter Score of 79.8
93.5% of participants reported internet access and significant financial burden due to travel for hospital visits