Authors: (including presenting author): :
Keung KK(1), Lee KW(1)
Affiliation: :
(1)Infectious Disease Special Medical Clinic, Princess Margaret Margaret Hospital
Keyword 3: :
effectiveness
Keyword 5: :
modern HIV care
Introduction: :
Telehealth delivers healthcare through audio-visual and digital technologies, providing a practical means of overcoming geographical and temporal barriers in chronic disease management. In HIV care, where long-term follow-up, medication monitoring, and ongoing clinical support are essential, telehealth has strong potential to improve accessibility and continuity of care. Consequently, telehealth services were introduced at the Princess Margaret Hospital Special Medical Clinic in the fourth quarter of 2023 to enhance service quality and address existing gaps in care delivery. This study examines how telehealth is reshaping modern HIV care by alleviating logistical constraints, improving patient experiences, and strengthening engagement with clinic services.
Objectives: :
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of telehealth in modern HIV care delivery by examining its impact on reducing patient travel time, achieving optimal patient satisfaction, increasing acceptance of telehealth services, and decreasing clinic default rates. It also assesses how telehealth influences patients’ preferences for remote versus face-to-face consultations and its role in supporting continuity of care. Through these measures, the study seeks to determine whether telehealth represents a sustainable and patient-centered model for long-term HIV management.
Methodology: :
A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in the fourth quarter of 2025 among patients receiving HIV care via telehealth. Patients already utilizing telehealth were invited to participate and completed the questionnaire. A mixed-method approach was employed, combining Likert-type rating scales with open-ended questions to capture both quantitative outcomes and qualitative insights into patient experiences. The survey examined key areas, including overall satisfaction with telehealth, perceived travel time savings, preferences between telehealth and in-person consultations, and perceived barriers or challenges to telehealth use. Additionally, attendance data were collected to compare default rates between telehealth appointments and traditional face-to-face consultations.
Result & Outcome: :
The findings demonstrate that telehealth provides substantial advantages in HIV care delivery. All 61 invited patients completed the survey, indicating strong engagement with telehealth services. Remote consultations resulted in a mean perceived travel time saving of 2.63 hours per visit, significantly enhancing convenience and reducing indirect costs. Overall patient satisfaction with telehealth was high, with an average score of 4.79 out of 5, and 100% of respondents expressed a preference for continuing medical consultations via telehealth. Moreover, appointment attendance showed notable improvement. Analysis of service data from the first quarter of 2024 to the third quarter of 2025 revealed a lower default rate for telehealth consultations (6.47%) compared to in-person consultations (12.08%). These findings suggest that telehealth supports continuity of care, enhances patient engagement, and represents an effective, patient-centered, and sustainable model for modern HIV care delivery.
