Research Report
Risk-reducing Salpingo-oophorectomy consults and practices during the COVID-19 pandemic

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gore.2022.101036Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Most providers transitioned RRSO consults to telehealth during the first year of the pandemic.

  • Geographic location was associated with the uptake of telehealth.

  • Providers spent similar time discussing sexual function in-person than compared to over telehealth (<1 min difference).

  • Most providers did not note any specific challenges to discussing sexual function over telehealth.

  • While respondents reported discussing sexual function in 85% of consults on average, the topics discussed varied widely.

Abstract

Objective

Investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomies (RRSO) consults.

Methods

Survey sent out to 1,127 full members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology in August 2021. Survey data included physician characteristics, practice location, and self-reported subjective and objective data about their RRSO consults.

Results

We received 70 responses; half of the respondents were female; the mean age of respondents was 46 (range 35–65). 86% of providers transitioned RRSO consults to telehealth. There was no correlation between uptake of telemedicine by age (R2 = 0.09) or gender (p = 0.80), but there was increased use in the West Coast region (p < 0.01). There was a small decrease in average time spent discussing sexual function over telehealth (35 s). Most providers felt comfortable discussing sexual health and function via telehealth.

Conclusions

Overall, telemedicine is now commonly used for RRSO consults and physicians noted very few barriers to its uptake. Discussion of sexual function was similar between modalities, the loss of the pelvic exam or private setting did not affect the time providers spent discussing sexual health, however sexual health topics discussed were limited.

Keywords

Risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
Telemedicine
Sexual health
Consults

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