Does doctor-patient Internet interaction reduce the length of stay or improve satisfaction of patients with chronic coronary syndrome who underwent coronary angiography during COVID-19 (Preprint)
Authors: Zhang Hui , Su Tong , Yang Ling , Ni Huiping 
Published: May 2021

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cardiovascular disease leading to high mortality rates worldwide, and chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) is one of the types of CAD 1. Patients with CCS need to be hospitalized for elective coronary angiography (CAG), and some patients have extended the length of stay due to combined different degrees of anxiety 2-4. Based on the concept of patient-centered treatment and transforming "treat the disease" into "treat the patient", it is imperative to strengthen the humanistic care for patients during the medical process 5. Establishing an effective and feasible long-term communication mechanism between doctors and patients during the perioperative period may be an effective way to reduce the length of stay 6,7. If this can improve patient satisfaction at the same time, it is the icing on the cake for the harmonious development of the physician -patient relationship and the stable operation of the medical system. When the State Council adopted Internet hospital as a national strategic plan, it has been required to improve the "Internet + medical and health" service system, especially in the context of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in order to reduce the possibility of crowds and cross-infection, the importance of Internet health care is becoming more and more prominent 8-10. This study will investigate the effect of establishing a doctor-patient Internet interaction mechanism in the perioperative period on the length of stay and satisfaction of patients with CCS.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of doctor-patient Internet interaction on the length of stay and satisfaction of patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

METHODS

Through a randomized controlled study, CCS patients were divided into new model group and traditional model group, and also divided into Internet interactive group and non-Internet interactive group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze each parameter on length of stay and patient satisfaction. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the impact of each factor on patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

There were 28 patients in each group. The new model group had significantly shorter length of stay than the traditional model group (P = 0.015); Group was an influencing factor for patient length of stay (P = 0.039); Group*Internet interaction and satisfaction at discharge are factors affecting patient satisfaction during the 30 days follow-up (both P < 0.05); Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the Internet interactive group compared to the non-interaction group (P < 0.001); Group*Internet interaction was an independent factor affecting patient satisfaction 30 days after discharge (P = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Doctor-patient Internet interaction may reduce the length of stay and improve patient satisfaction of patients with CCS during COVID-19.