Real-world comparison of phone versus video consultation in a tobacco treatment program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Diane Beneventi, George Kypriotakis, Chris Kotsen and 4 others
PMID 40945190WHAT IT FOUND
Phone and video initial consultations in a cancer tobacco treatment program produced similar self-reported quit rates at 3, 6, and 9 months.
Let patients choose the format.
Key findings
01Adjusted models found no significant difference in abstinence at 3, 6, or 9 months between phone and video initial consultation groups.
02Video initial consultation patients were younger and more often categorized as other race than phone initial consultation patients.
03The comparison was only of the first visit, because most follow-up contacts were conducted by phone.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Patients chose phone or video, and the groups differed in age and race, so this was not a randomized comparison. Only the first consultation modality was compared; most follow-up contacts were by phone. Abstinence was self-reported 7-day point prevalence. The data were collected during the pandemic and ended in April 2021, so current video comfort may differ. Results may not generalize to other regions or less resourced cancer centers. The phone group attended more sessions on average, and the clinical meaning of that difference is unclear.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that phone and video are equally effective for the entire tobacco treatment course. The study compared only the first consultation, and almost all follow-up contacts were by phone.