Telehealth service use in people with cancer compared to people without cancer: analysis of Patient Experience Surveys in Australia

AI Summary

Telehealth was used by 38% of people with cancer versus 26% without cancer.
Mental health and other chronic conditions increased telehealth use; unmarried status, uninsured, lower education and more recent surveys reduced use.
People with cancer who used telehealth had highest odds of poor health, ED visits and hospitalisation; over 90% reported positive telehealth perceptions.

AI Summary

Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to examine characteristics associated with telehealth use between cancer and non-cancer groups and to compare self-assessed health status, emergency department (ED) presentation and hospitalisations by telehealth use and cancer status. In both cancer and non-cancer groups, mental health conditions and other long-term health conditions were associated with higher odds of telehealth use, whereas being unmarried, uninsured, having a lower education level and a more recent survey were associated with lower odds of telehealth use. The odds of poor health status (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 4.29; 95% CI = 3.59-5.12), ED presentation (aOR = 2.69; 95% CI = 2.30-3.14) and hospital admission (aOR = 3.97; 95% CI = 3.41-4.61) were highest in people with cancer and telehealth use, followed by people with cancer who did not use telehealth and people without cancer who use telehealth, when compared to people without cancer and telehealth usage.

Basic summary

Support Care Cancer. 2026 Jun 5;34(7):617. doi: 10.1007/s00520-026-10851-3.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the prevalence and characteristics associated with telehealth use in people with and without cancer.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study using data from the Australia’s Patient Experience Surveys (2022-2023 and 2023-2024) of all participants aged ≥ 25 years. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to examine characteristics associated with telehealth use between cancer and non-cancer groups and to compare self-assessed health status, emergency department (ED) presentation and hospitalisations by telehealth use and cancer status.

RESULTS: Telehealth was used by over one-third of respondents with cancer (n = 797/2109, 38%) and one-quarter of respondents without cancer (n = 11,984/45,438; 26%). In both cancer and non-cancer groups, mental health conditions and other long-term health conditions were associated with higher odds of telehealth use, whereas being unmarried, uninsured, having a lower education level and a more recent survey were associated with lower odds of telehealth use. The odds of poor health status (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 4.29; 95% CI = 3.59-5.12), ED presentation (aOR = 2.69; 95% CI = 2.30-3.14) and hospital admission (aOR = 3.97; 95% CI = 3.41-4.61) were highest in people with cancer and telehealth use, followed by people with cancer who did not use telehealth and people without cancer who use telehealth, when compared to people without cancer and telehealth usage. Over 90% of people who used telehealth showed positive perceptions of the service regardless of cancer status.

CONCLUSIONS: While over one-third of respondents with cancer utilised a telehealth service, the majority did not. Further research should investigate the barriers to accessing telehealth services to inform the development of health policy and strategies targeting people with greatest needs.

PMID:42247164 | DOI:10.1007/s00520-026-10851-3

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