Experiences of recently diagnosed urban COVID-19 outpatients: A survey on patient worries, provider-patient interactions, and neutralizing monoclonal antibody treatment

TL;DR

This study explores how recently diagnosed urban COVID-19 outpatients experienced worry, provider interactions, and monoclonal antibody treatment based on their sociodemographic and clinical factors.

Contribution

The study identifies sociodemographic and clinical factors influencing outpatient experiences with monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19.

Findings

Younger, female, and Hispanic patients reported greater worry about their diagnosis.

Provider trust was higher among patients with more education and comorbidities.

Insurance type and access to care influenced monoclonal antibody treatment offers.

Abstract

COVID-19 patients have experienced worry, altered provider-patient interactions, and options to use novel treatments, initially with neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Limited research has been performed on these aspects of the COVID-19 outpatient experience.

This study aimed to evaluate the experiences of outpatients recently diagnosed with COVID-19, who were eligible for use of mAbs, during the diagnosis and treatment process based on sociodemographic and clinical factors.

This was a self-reported cohort study performed via telephone surveys. Participants included COVID-19 outpatients who met at least one emergency use criterion for mAbs during the first 120 days after a SARS-CoV-2 positive test. We analyzed survey results using multivariable logistic regression for non-scale outcomes and adjusted proportional odds logistic regression for scaled outcomes.

Greater worry about their COVID-19 diagnosis was reported by younger, female, and Hispanic patients and those with Medicaid insurance, two or more comorbid conditions, BMI > 25, and at least 2 COVID-19 vaccinations. Greater provider trust was reported by patients with ≥ 2 years of college education, one or more comorbid conditions, and one or more COVID-19 vaccinations; whereas less provider trust was reported by patients ages 45–64 years, with usual place of care in a walk-in clinic, and those without Commercial, Medicare, or Medicaid insurance. In patients who did not receive mAbs, patients with Medicaid and those without Commercial/Medicare insurance were among the factors that were less likely be offered mAbs by a provider.

This report describes factors associated with multiple aspects of outpatients’ experience of COVID-19. This study demonstrated that there are important differences in the experience of outpatient COVID-19 patients based on sociodemographic factors and clinical factors, as well as where additional strategies are needed to improve this experience and associated outcomes.

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