Observational studyBMC palliative care2024
Virtual consultations: the experience of oncology and palliative care healthcare professionals.
Observational study in BMC palliative care, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- How is Telehealth Used to Increase Access to Specialty Palliative Care? A Systematic Review.Journal of pain and symptom management · 2025Pooled it
- Acceptability of My Ten: a physical activity intervention for family caregivers of people with advanced cancer.BMC palliative care · 2026Article
- Communication practices and experience of connection in telehealth serious illness conversations with rural cancer patients: a qualitative study.BMC palliative care · 2026Article
- Technology and the clinical encounter: a qualitative study of mental health clinician and patient experiences of telemedicine.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Shifting to online and telephone bereavement support provision during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study of bereavement service provider perspectives and lessons learnt for current practice.Palliative medicine · 2026Article
- Future care planning.BMJ supportive & palliative care · 2025Review
- Article
- Palliative Care Services in Bhutan: Current Progress and Future Needs.Indian journal of palliative careArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesTo maintain continuity of care during the Covid-19 pandemic, virtual consultations (VC) became the mainstay of patient-healthcare practitioner interactions. The aim of this study was to explore the views of oncology and palliative care healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding the medium of VC.
methodA cross sectional mixed methodology observational study of oncology and palliative care HCPs, analysed via an inductive thematic approach. This was undertaken in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.
results87 surveys were completed. Three master themes were identified. Personal, professional, and familial factors including patient age, illness and VC skillset all influenced practitioner's experience of VC. Relationships and connection were highlighted by survey respondents as important influences, with a perception that VC could reduce usual relationships with patients, compared to previous face-to-face consults. There was a perceived loss in these domains with VC. Sharing bad news and having challenging conversations was seen as particularly difficult via VC. Many survey respondents emphasized that they preferred to have first time consultations face-to-face, and not virtually. Within the domain of logistical and practical implications reduced travel and increased accessibility were seen as a significant benefit of VC. The inability to examine patients and concerns regarding missing clinical signs was emphasised as a significant worry, alongside the challenges faced with occasionally failing technology.
conclusionVC were felt to have a role for those patients who are already known to professionals, where there was an established relationship. VC for difficult discussions and for unstable patients were felt to be inadequate. Triaging patient suitability prior to offering VC, with emphasis on the importance of patient choice, was seen as a priority in this new era of VC.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.