Can virtual care reduce treatment burden in pediatric leukemia? A retrospective cost analysis.
Jonas DreherAndreas MerykDavid RiedlGabriele KropshoferBenjamin HetzerSabrina NeururerBernhard PfeiferVerena Schneeberger-CartaBernhard HolznerRoman CrazzolaraPublished in: Pediatric blood & cancer (2023)
We conducted a retrospective analysis to determine the potential reduction in treatment burden through the expansion of virtual care among children with leukemia (n = 152). Patients living in urban areas traveled median distances of 1555 km compared with 7536 km for patients living in rural areas (p < .05). For the latter group, a median reduction in travel distance of 3560 km (interquartile range [IQR], 2136-5787 km), travel time of 51 h (IQR, 26-78 h), and CO 2 emissions of 623 kg (IQR, 374-1013 kg) was estimated, if every second visit was replaced by video consultations.