Patient acceptance of telemedicine for breast cancer follow-up: a cross-sectional study from Eastern China.

INTRODUCTION

Telemedicine offers a potential solution to the challenges of long-term follow-up for the growing population of breast cancer survivors. However, its acceptance and the factors influencing it among Chinese patients are not well understood.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study evaluated telemedicine acceptance and its associated factors among 812 breast cancer patients at a tertiary hospital in Eastern China (June 2026) using structured telephone interviews.

RESULTS

Overall, 72.3% of patients showed high acceptance, yet familiarity was low: only 27.7% had prior telemedicine use and 53.4% were familiar with it. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that unmarried/divorced/widowed status (OR = 0.32), unemployment (OR = 0.30), and higher risk concerns (OR = 0.44) were independently linked to lower acceptance (all P<0.05), while higher education (junior high: OR = 2.77; bachelor+: OR = 5.97), diagnosis duration >12 months (OR = 2.67), and greater perceived benefits (OR = 12.00) were associated with higher acceptance (all P<0.05). Moderation analysis showed technological barriers reduced acceptance, but their interactions with perceived benefits (P = 0.125) and risk concerns (P = 0.090) were not significant. Telephone consultation was the most preferred modality (62.4%), especially among older, less educated, and lower-income patients, whereas video consultation was favored by younger, more educated, and higher-income patients.

DISCUSSION: While acceptance of telemedicine is high among Eastern Chinese breast cancer patients, familiarity and experience remain limited. These findings may inform future approaches to telemedicine implementation, including patient education, attention to technological barriers, and flexible modality options, particularly for vulnerable subgroups.