JAMA Netw Open

Many patients with chronic conditions still lack access to remote care

February 13, 2026

A national survey of nearly 2,000 French adults with long‑term conditions found that 47% reported no remote communication options with their referring physician. Preferences for remote care varied by need: most patients favored in‑person visits for new or worsening symptoms, yet many preferred remote modalities for results discussion (43%) and medication renewal (55%). Notably, up to 51% said they would trade an in‑person visit in 20 days for a direct‑to‑consumer remote consult within 5 days with a nonreferring physician—highlighting the role of wait time in decision‑making.

Clinical takeaway: Patients with chronic conditions may accept remote care—even outside their usual care team—when it meets convenience and timeliness needs.

Source:

Lenfant T, et al. (2026, February 2). JAMA Netw Open. Patient Preferences for In-Person vs Remote Care for Long-Term Conditions. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41665906/