Background and importance The coronarovirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has strongly impacted organiation of care. Some patients with chronic diseases did not get their regular follow-ups. New digital health care techniques, such as e-therapeutic patient education (e-TPE), allowed maintenance of the continuity of these patients’ care.

Aim and objectives Objectives of this study were to assess in a French region how TPE programmes have adapted during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to evaluate the establishment of e-TPE.

Material and methods A survey was conducted in February 2021 based on an online questionnaire containing 21 questions submitted to 180 TPE programme coordinators in a region. This questionnaire was composed by three parts: the first one is about TPE programmes that have been achieved, the second one concerns the adaptation of the sessions during the first lockdown, and the last one refers to the implementation of e-TPE.

Results A total of 62 questionnaires were collected corresponding to 80 TPE programmes in the region. The majority of health professionals (79%, n = 49) completely stopped their programmes during the first lockdown and 21% (n = 13) kept it either with reduced activity or with continued TPE sessions. Among the second group, the majority of their programmes have been adapted to the context: development of teleconsultation and e-TPE sessions. The e-TPE sessions were set up by 13 coordinators using different tools: internet platforms such as ‘app’e-sante’ or ‘Mydiabby’ and videoconferences. The advantages stated by healthcare professionals were: easy access to sessions and limited travel (n = 7), maintenance of the link with the patient (n = 5) and adaptability to the patient’s organisational issues (n = 4). Drawbacks were also highlighted, in particular the lack of interaction between healthcare professionals and the patient (n = 8) but also some internet connection issues in certain residential areas (n = 5).

Conclusion and relevance The development of e-TPE allowed the decompartmentalisation of the ambulatory patients’ care. The patients and healthcare professionals who participated in the digital sessions declared themselves to be fully satisfied. The e-TPE is a digital tool at the service of the clinical pharmacist to achieve their mission of health promotion.

Conflict of interest No conflict of interest