“Virtual care yes, but it has to be in addendum”: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults’ perceptions of virtual care (Preprint)

BACKGROUND In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults across the globe have increasingly received health care virtually; and health care organizations and professional bodies have indicated that virtual care is “here to stay.” OBJECTIVE This research aimed to understand older adults’ perspectives and experiences of virtual care during the pandemic. METHODS As part of a larger study on older adults’ technology use during the pandemic, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 diverse older Canadians (mean age 79 years) at two points: Summer 2020 and Winter/early Spring 2021. Participants were asked about their technology skills, experiences with virtual appointments, and perspectives on this type of care delivery. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed. A combination of team-based and framework analyses were used to interpret the data. RESULTS Participants were generally satisfied with the virtual care they received during the pandemic. Participants described the benefits of virtual care (e.g., increased convenience and efficiency), the limitations of virtual care (e.g., need for physical examination and touch, lack of non-verbal communication, systemic barriers in access), and their perspectives on the future of virtual care. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our research has identified both the perceived benefits and limitations of virtual care, and our older adult participants emphasized their wishes for a hybrid model of virtual care, in which virtual care is viewed as an addendum, not a replacement for in-person care. Findings from this study can be mobilized as part of broader efforts to support older patients and providers engaged in virtual, and in-person care, particularly post-COVID-19. CLINICALTRIAL n/a