@article {AdhikaryP3654, author = {Rina Adhikary and Leanne Cheyne and Paul Beirne}, title = {Telephone consultations for follow-up of interstitial lung disease: Patient satisfaction survey}, volume = {40}, number = {Suppl 56}, elocation-id = {P3654}, year = {2012}, publisher = {European Respiratory Society}, abstract = {IntroductionThe long-term follow-up required by Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) patients imposes a significant burden on healthcare resources. Telephone consultations have been piloted as an alternative to some face-to-face consultations in a teaching hospital based ILD service. Patients whose next consult is anticipated to be uncomplicated (eg stable patients having interval lung function tests) are offered a phone consult with the ILD consultant.Aims and ObjectivesTo assess whether ILD patients are as satisfied with a telephone consultation as with a face-to-face consult.MethodsA postal survey was sent to 95 consecutive ILD patients who had a phone consult over a 12-month period. Patients used a 5-point score to report if, in comparison to a face-to-face consult, the phone consult was as punctual, convenient, reassuring, and afforded the same opportunity to ask questions, and facilitated the same understanding of information.Results52 patients (55\%) posted responses (see Table 1). 67\% agreed phone consults were as punctual. 78\% agreed they were as convenient. 77\% felt as reassured and as able to ask questions. 88\% understood the information given just as easily. 80\% were willing to have another phone consult.View this table:Table 1DiscussionThe majority of ILD patients selected for a telephone consultation were at least as satisfied as with a face-to-face consult. Telephone consultations are acceptable to the majority of ILD patients for at least some of their follow-up.}, issn = {0903-1936}, URL = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P3654}, eprint = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P3654.full.pdf}, journal = {European Respiratory Journal} }