title: Opioid use disorder patients' perceptions of healthcare delivery platforms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the acceptability and quality of web-based videoconferencing telemedicine consultation platform in the treatment of opioid use disorder at TrueNorth Medical Centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an interview based quality improvement initiative using an investigator-designed questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 17 Agree/Disagree questions, measured on a 7-point Likert scale and 2 questions where patients had the ability to elaborate qualitatively on their perceptions and experiences with their telemedicine service. Content-style analysis was performed on qualitative responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of patients (n=14; 47%) preferred face-to-face over telemedicine consultations. The number of patients that preferred telemedicine consultations over face-to-face consultations was lower (n=6; 20%). A notable number of patients (n=10; 33%) indicated no specific preference for either telemedicine or face-to-face consultations. Patients preferring face-to-face consultations rated their clinical outcome and patient-physician relationship following telemedicine consultations similarly as those who preferred telemedicine consultations. Patients preferring telemedicine rated their experience and overall perceptions of the service significantly higher than those preferring face-to-face consultations. Patients who preferred telemedicine consultations identified the efficient and timesaving nature of telemedicine consultations as primary advantages whereas those preferring face-to-face consultations reported lower levels of empathy from their physician during telemedicine consultations as a major disadvantage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of patients at TrueNorth Medical Centre viewed telemedicine consultations as an acceptable treatment modality. Patients preferring telemedicine consultations and those preferring face-to-face consultations evaluated the majority of the measured indices of care in a similar fashion.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Uros
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rakita
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giacobbe
authors.affiliation: Opioid Program, TrueNorth Medical Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavacuiti
keywords: Telemedicine; face-to-face consultation; opioid use disorder; patient preference