Utilization of telehealth in paediatric genome-wide sequencing: Health services implementation issues in the CAUSES Study.
J Telemed Telecare
; 29(4): 318-327, 2023 May.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33470133
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Genome-wide sequencing (exome or whole genome) is transforming the care and management of paediatric patients with a rare disease because of its diagnostic capabilities. Genome-wide sequencing is most effective when both parents and the child are sequenced as a trio. Genetic counselling is recommended for all families considering genome-wide sequencing. Although telehealth is well established in genetic counselling for hereditary cancer and prenatal genetics, its use with genome-wide sequencing has not been well studied. The CAUSES Clinic at BC Children's and Women's Hospitals was a translational paediatric trio-based genome-wide sequencing initiative. Pre-test genetic counselling via telehealth (at a clinical site near the family's residence) was offered to families who had been previously evaluated by a clinical geneticist. We report on the first 300 families seen in the CAUSES clinic and compare health services implementation issues of families seen via telehealth versus on-site.METHODS:
Demographics, cost to families (travel and time), time to first appointment, complete trio sample accrual and diagnostic rates were studied.RESULTS:
Of the 300 patients, 58 (19%) were seen via telehealth and 242 (81%) were seen on-site for pre-test counselling. The mean time to completion of accrual of trio samples in the telehealth group was 56.3 (standard deviation ±87.3) days versus 18.9 (standard deviation ±62.4) days in the onsite group (p < 2.2 × 10-16). The mean per-family estimated actual or potential travel/time cost savings were greater in the telehealth group (Can$987; standard deviation = Can$1151) than for those seen on-site (Can$305; standard deviation = Can$589) (p = 0.0004).CONCLUSIONS:
Telehealth allowed for access to genome-wide sequencing for families in remote communities and for them to avoid significant travel and time costs; however, there was a significant delay to accrual of the complete trio samples in the telehealth group, impacting on time of result reporting and delaying diagnoses for families for whom genome-wide sequencing was diagnostic.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Telemedicina
/
Serviços de Saúde
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
Limite:
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Telemed Telecare
Assunto da revista:
INFORMATICA MEDICA
/
SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Canadá