Comparison Between Virtual vs in Person on Treatment Follow-up Visits of Radiotherapy

Transforming On-Treatment Follow-Up Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Virtual Versus In-Person Visits Evaluating Clinical Outcomes, Patient-Reported Measures, and Telehealth Implementation

This study aims to evaluate the logistical feasibility and implementation of virtual versus in-person on-treatment follow up visits in a high-volume radiation oncology setting. It further seeks to assess and compare patient and physician satisfaction with both modalities through structured survey data, providing insight into the clinical utility, communication quality, and overall acceptability of telehealth integration during active cancer treatment.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Radiotherapy

Detailed Description

Telemedicine and telehealth services, operationally defined as patient-provider interactions conducted through telecommunication technologies, have experienced widespread integration across diverse medical specialties. Prior to the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, numerous clinical disciplines had adopted telemedicine modalities to enhance healthcare accessibility and improve patient convenience. The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath have precipitated an unprecedented acceleration in the adoption of telehealth services, profoundly reshaping healthcare delivery paradigms across multiple disciplines.

As of 2025, Pakistan continues to grapple with a substantial cancer burden, with more than 185,000 new cases and over 125,000 cancer-related deaths reported annually. Despite ongoing efforts to improve awareness, early detection, and treatment accessibility, major challenges persist-particularly regarding healthcare access in rural regions and the financial burden associated with cancer treatment. For patients undergoing primary treatment, the costs of travel, accommodation, and sustenance during treatment and follow-up visits constitute significant barriers. These economic constraints frequently result in missed appointments and treatment discontinuation, thereby compromising the effectiveness of established therapeutic protocols.

Addressing these barriers necessitates a multifaceted approach, including the strategic expansion of telemedicine services. Telehealth can serve as a vital tool to bridge gaps in cancer care accessibility, ensuring that patients receive timely and continuous treatment regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status.

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) is a leading institution in Pakistan, delivering comprehensive oncologic care to a large patient population. In 2024 alone, approximately 83,000 patients received radiotherapy in neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or palliative settings, underscoring the hospital's pivotal role in cancer management. As a high-volume cancer center, effective coordination of follow-up appointments and the maintenance of accurate clinical documentation are essential tasks that require seamless collaboration between patients and healthcare professionals.

Patients undergoing radiation therapy at SKMCH&RC were consecutively recruited and randomly assigned to either a hybrid follow-up group, receiving one virtual and one in-person appointment, or a control group receiving only in-person follow-ups. Clinical and demographic information was obtained from patient records. Following each visit, patients completed an anonymous, validated questionnaire survey assessing satisfaction, communication, and convenience. Additional logistical data, including appointment adherence, visit duration, and any technical difficulties during virtual visits, were systematically documented. All collected data were anonymized and stored securely to maintain confidentiality and support robust analysis of telehealth integration in on-treatment care.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 180

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Anusha Haider, MBBS; Phone Number: 4072 03244534247; Email: anushahaider@skm.org.pk
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Sadia Anjum, MBBS; Phone Number: 4072 03280117652; Email: sadianjum@skm.org.pk

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab Province
    • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
      • Recruiting
      • Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer hospital & Research Centre
      • Contact: Farah Asif, MBBS; Phone Number: 4280 04235905000; Email: crc3@skm.org.pk

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All cancer patients requiring radiotherapy

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who are 18 years and above.
2. All patients who are undergoing radiotherapy (>5 fractions).
3. Capacity to provide informed consent for participation in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients below 18 years
2. Unable to provide informed consent for participation in the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Inperson followup visits; Group A involves weekly in person followup visits in radiation department undergoing radiotherapy.
Hybrid virtual & inperson radiotherpay followup; Group B involves hybrid group with alternating 1 virtual and 1 in person followup visits in radiation department undergoing radiotherapy.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Outcomes of virtual vs in person on treatment of follow-up radiotherapy visits through structured questionnaire	To evaluate the implementation of virtual and in person follow-up visits thereby accessing and comparing patient satisfaction with both modalities through structured questionnaire providing insights into clinical utility and overall acceptability of telehealth integration during active cancer treatment.	4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Latif A, Usmani S, Sheikh A, et al. Bridging oncology gaps with telemedicine in low-resource settings. J Glob Oncol. 2023;9:1-8.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 11, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 24, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 23, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 23, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB-25-1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No