Rural Residence Is Associated With Telephone Care Satisfaction Among Individuals With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Cross-Sectional Study From Saskatchewan, Canada

Individuals living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) require regular medical follow-up. Rural residents face barriers to accessing specialized IBD care. Virtual care may act as a solution to reduce such barriers. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the use of telephone care (TC) appointments in certain Canadian provinces. In this study, we measured satisfaction with TC among individuals with IBD in Saskatchewan, Canada, and explored the factors associated with TC satisfaction. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Saskatchewan among individuals with IBD through an online survey completed between December 2021 and April 2022. The survey included demographic questions and the Telephone Care Satisfaction Questionnaire (TCSQ). Factors associated with TC satisfaction were explored using ordinary least squares regressions with robust standard errors. Regression estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were reported. Eighty-seven individuals with IBD participated in the survey; 54 (64.3%) had Crohn's disease, 53 (61.6%) were women, 60 (69.8%) lived in urban centers, and 37 (43.5%) were between 41 and 59 years old. The mean satisfaction with TC was 5.70 (SD = 0.94) on a scale from 1.00 (low) to 7.00 (high). Individuals with IBD in rural Saskatchewan reported TC satisfaction scores that were 0.42 points (95% CI 0.03-0.83) higher than those living in urban areas, adjusted by medications for IBD, health care provider managing IBD, and perceived health-related quality of life and quality of care. In conclusion, individuals with IBD in Saskatchewan reported high levels of satisfaction with TC. Rural residence is associated with higher levels of TC satisfaction. This study could help promote the utilization of TC and improve access to specialized IBD care, especially among individuals living in rural areas.