Use of telehealth and eHealth technologies in patient care by psycho-oncology service providers in low-middle-income countries during the COVID-19

Psychooncology. 2022 Feb;31(2):334-337. doi: 10.1002/pon.5797. Epub 2021 Sep 1.

Abstract

  1. A high number of mental health cancer care providers from low–middle‐income countries (LMICs) reported that they are working during the COVID‐19 as both clinicians and researchers

  2. Less than 50% of providers surveyed were taking care of patients with comorbid cancer and COVID‐19. They also reported that this pandemic had drastically impacted the number of patients seen per week

  3. Due to COVID‐19, mental health cancer care providers from LMICs had to incorporate technology into their practice (with and without the support from an institution). Telephone, videoconferencing, text messages, and telehealth have been great resources by which to offer psychosocial support to their patients

  4. Notably, despite the fact that mental health cancer care providers from LMICs have been able to offer eHealth interventions during the pandemic, they are experiencing notable challenges in delivering this type of intervention, often due to limited technology resources in their countries

  5. The vast majority of mental health cancer providers from LMICs would like to be trained to offer eHealth interventions and to develop this type of supportive care resource in their countries

Keywords: COVID-19; cancer; eHealth; low-middle-income countries; oncology; telehealth.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Developing Countries
  • Humans
  • Patient Care
  • Psycho-Oncology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Telemedicine*