Clinician satisfaction and experience using teleconsultation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan: A cross-sectional study

Aims: During the pandemic of COVID-19, the sudden change in traditional health-care providing systems, clinicians experience some positive and negative aspects of the approach. This study evaluates the clinician's satisfaction and experience with the use of teleconsultation provided during the pandemic of novel coronavirus and their willingness to continue telehealth after the pandemic. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted online during the peak pandemic of COVID-19 in Pakistan through Google Forms questionnaire from 115 health consultants on different disciplines and recruited through social media. The questionnaire contains 15 questions regarding clinician's satisfaction, quality of treatment, and intention to continue providing telehealth services after the pandemic. Descriptive and inferential statistics were obtained by analyzing the data using SPSS software version 20, USA. Results: One hundred and fifteen consultants, 28 males and 87 females participated in the study, in which 62% were found to have an average and 34% at a high level of satisfaction. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant difference among different medical specialists in the continuation of telehealth services after the pandemic of COVID-19 (P = 0.003) and its recommendation to friends and family (P = 0.02) with high mean rank in endocrinologist and dermatologist. Conclusions: A great number of participants reported a good response for the continuation in telemedicine services in their daily routine even after the pandemic situation. However, there is an urgent need to find the solution for the difficulties and drawbacks faced by health-care providers.

Nursing teleconsultation: development of a platform for Covid-19 case management / Teleconsulta de enfermagem: desenvolvimento de plataforma para atendimento de casos de Covid-19 / Telecosulta en enfermería: desarrollo de una plataforma para el manejo de casos de Covid-19

Objetivo: Desenvolver uma plataforma virtual de Teleconsulta para atendimento a casos suspeitos de Síndromes Gripais e infecção por COVID-19. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo de natureza aplicada, com desenvolvimento de produção tecnológica e inovadora, prospectivo, ecológico, descritivo, de série temporal. A população do estudo foi formada por qualquer pessoa sintomática para Síndromes Gripais por COVID-19, suspeitos ou confirmados, de qualquer local do Brasil. Este estudo foi realizado em duas etapas, a saber: Etapa I: Desenvolvimento da Aplicação para Plataforma de Teleconsulta. Etapa II: atendimento por meio de Teleconsulta de Casos suspeitos de COVID-19 e Sindromes Gripais. A metodologia utilizada para o desenvolvimento da aplicação proposta foi a modelagem por prototipação evolucionária. Resultados: Foram realizados 209 atendimentos na Plataforma de Teleconsulta, sendo 151 (70%) do sexo feminino e 65 (30%) do sexo masculino, com prevalência de idade variando de 20 a 29 anos (41%). Quanto ao risco de infecção por COVID-19, 42 (20%) tinham alto risco, 75 (36%) médio risco e 92 (44%) baixo risco. Os sintomas mais prevalentes foram: secreção nasal ou espirros (53%), dores no corpo (49%), dor de cabeça (47%), dor de garganta (46%), tosse seca (35%), Febre (31%), falta de ar (25%) e diarreia (23%). Inicialmente o teleatendimento foi composto por teletriagem com classificação de risco com base na sintomatologia dos pacientes que foram codificados com pontuações conforme a gravidade do sintoma para formas graves de COVID-19. A classificação de risco categorizou os pacientes em risco baixo (1 a 9 pontos), risco médio (10 a 19 pontos) e risco alto (20 a 36 pontos). Em seguida, a teleconsulta foi agendada conforme disponibilidade do paciente por meio do método SBAR para comunicação efetiva e ao término do atendimento um plano de cuidados com Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem ­ SAE era encaminhado ao paciente por meio de WhatsApp ou e-mail. Conclusão: A plataforma de teleconsulta possibilitou a triagem dos pacientes, reduziu as visitas desnecessárias às unidades de emergência, permitiu a avaliação e monitoramento dos casos, bem como o acompanhamento de pacientes ambulatoriais que não necessitam de avaliação presencial.

Objective: To develop a virtual Teleconsultation platform for care of suspected cases of influenza syndromes and infection by COVID-19. Methodology: This is a study of applied nature, with development of technological and innovative production, prospective, ecological, descriptive, time series. The study population was made up of any person symptomatic for COVID-19 influenza syndromes, suspected or confirmed, from any location in Brazil. This study was conducted in two stages, namely: Stage I: Development of the Application for Teleconsultation Platform. Stage II: care through Teleconsultation of suspected cases of COVID-19 and influenza syndromes. The methodology used to develop the proposed application was evolutionary prototyping modeling. Results: There were 209 consultations in the Teleconsultation Platform, 151 (70%) were female and 65 (30%) were male, with prevalence of age ranging from 20 to 29 years (41%). As for the risk of infection by COVID-19, 42 (20%) had high risk, 75 (36%) medium risk and 92 (44%) low risk. The most prevalent symptoms were: nasal discharge or sneezing (53%), body aches (49%), headache (47%), sore throat (46%), dry cough (35%), fever (31%), shortness of breath (25%), and diarrhea (23%). Initially, the telecare was composed of teletry with risk classification based on the symptomatology of the patients who were coded with scores according to symptom severity for severe forms of COVID-19. The risk classification categorized patients into low risk (1 to 9 points), medium risk (10 to 19 points), and high risk (20 to 36 points). Then, the teleconsultation was scheduled according to the patient's availability through the SBAR method for effective communication and at the end of the service a care plan with Nursing Assistance Systematization - SAE was forwarded to the patient through WhatsApp or e-mail. Conclusion: Teleconsultation platform enabled patient triage, reduced unnecessary visits to emergency units, allowed the evaluation and monitoring of cases, as well as the follow- up of outpatients who do not need face-to-face evaluation.

Objetivo: Desarrollar una plataforma de Teleconsulta virtual para atender casos sospechosos de síndromes gripales e infección por COVID-19. Metodología: Se trata de un estudio aplicado, con desarrollo de producción tecnológica e innovadora, prospectivo, ecológico, descriptivo, con serie de tiempo. La población de estudio estuvo formada por cualquier persona sintomática de síndromes gripales por COVID-19, sospechada o confirmada, de cualquier localidad de Brasil. Este estudio se realizó en dos etapas, a saber: Etapa I: Desarrollo de Aplicaciones para la Plataforma de Teleconsulta. Etapa II: atención mediante teleconsulta de casos sospechosos de COVID-19 y síndromes gripales. La metodología utilizada para el desarrollo de la aplicación propuesta fue el modelado por prototipo evolutivo. Resultados: Se realizaron 209 consultas en la Plataforma de Teleconsulta, 151 (70%) del sexo femenino y 65 (30%) del masculino, con prevalencia de edades entre 20 a 29 años (41%). En cuanto al riesgo de infección por COVID-19, 42 (20%) fueron de alto riesgo, 75 (36%) de riesgo medio y 92 (44%) de bajo riesgo. Los síntomas más prevalentes fueron: secreción nasal o estornudos (53%), dolor de cuerpo (49%), dolor de cabeza (47%), dolor de garganta (46%), tos seca (35%), fiebre (31%), falta de aliento (25%) y diarrea (23%). Inicialmente, la teleasistencia consistía en teleselección con clasificación de riesgo en función de la sintomatología de los pacientes a los que se codificaba con puntuaciones según la gravedad del síntoma para formas graves de COVID-19. La clasificación de riesgo clasificó a los pacientes en riesgo bajo (1 a 9 puntos), riesgo medio (10 a 19 puntos) y riesgo alto (20 a 36 puntos). Luego, se programó la teleconsulta de acuerdo a la disponibilidad del paciente a través del método SBAR para una comunicación efectiva y al final de la atención se remitió al paciente un plan de cuidados con Sistematización de Atención de Enfermería - SAE vía WhatsApp o correo electrónico. Conclusión: La plataforma de teleconsulta posibilitó el triaje de pacientes, redujo las visitas innecesarias a las unidades de emergencia, permitió la evaluación y seguimiento de casos, así como el seguimiento de pacientes ambulatorios que no requieren evaluación presencial.

Promoting cognitive health: a virtual group intervention for community-living older adults.

Group cognitive interventions can promote a sense of self-efficacy to older adults. Due to restrictive social distancing measures in the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face interventions that aimed to promote cognitive health needed to be adapted to a virtual offering. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the effects of promoting cognitive health in a virtual group intervention for community-living older adults. Methods: This is a mixed, prospective, and analytical study. Before and after the intervention, the tests were applied: Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB) and the Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaire (MAC-Q). Data were collected at semi-structured interviews related to the adoption of memory strategies. Statistical tests were conducted for initial and final intragroup comparison. The qualitative data were assessed using thematic analysis. Results: A total of 14 participants concluded the intervention. With respect to mnemonic strategies, the most relevant for the qualifier "Did not use it before and started to do so after the group" were association (n=10; 71.4%) and dual-task inhibition (n=9; 64.3%). According to the tests, the intervention improved incidental, immediate, and delayed recall, as well as the perception of memory for "Remembering the name of the person they just met," "Remembering the telephone number you use at least once a week," "Remembering where they put an object," "Remembering news from a magazine article or television program," and "In general, how would you describe your memory now compared to when you were 40 years old." Conclusions: The synchronous virtual group intervention was shown to be feasible for the elderly in the community who participated in the study.

Intervenções cognitivas em grupo podem promover um senso de autoeficácia em idosos. Em decorrência das medidas restritivas de distanciamento social na pandemia de COVID-19, as intervenções presenciais que visavam promover a saúde cognitiva precisaram ser adaptadas à oferta virtual. Objetivos: Analisar os efeitos da promoção da saúde cognitiva em uma intervenção em grupo virtual para idosos que vivem na comunidade. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo misto, prospectivo e analítico. Antes e depois da intervenção foram aplicados os testes: Bateria de Triagem Cognitiva Breve (BCSB) e Questionário de Queixas de Memória Subjetiva (MAC-Q). Os dados foram coletados em entrevistas semiestruturadas relacionadas à adoção de estratégias de memória. Foram realizados testes estatísticos para a comparação intragrupo inicial e final. Os dados qualitativos foram avaliados por meio da análise temática. Resultados: Quatorze participantes concluíram a intervenção. Com relação às estratégias mnemônicas, as mais relevantes para o qualificador "não usava antes e passou a usar depois do grupo" foram associação (n=10; 71,4%) e inibição de dupla tarefa (n=9; 64,3%). De acordo com os testes, a intervenção melhorou a recordação incidental, imediata e tardia, bem como a percepção da memória para: "lembrar o nome da pessoa que acabou de conhecer"; "lembrar o número de telefone que você usa pelo menos uma vez por semana"; "lembrar onde colocaram um objeto"; "lembrar notícias de um artigo de revista ou programa de televisão" e "em geral, como você descreveria sua memória agora em comparação com quando tinha 40 anos". Conclusões: A intervenção síncrona em grupo virtual mostrou-se viável para os idosos da comunidade que participaram do estudo.

Characteristics of Chiropractic Patients in the Veterans Health Administration During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether patient characteristics were associated with face-to-face (F2F) and telehealth visits for those receiving chiropractic care for musculoskeletal conditions in the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of all patients (veterans, dependents, and spouses) who received chiropractic care nationwide at the VHA from March 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021, was performed. Patients were allocated into 1 of the following 3 groups: only telehealth visits, only F2F visits, and combined F2F and telehealth visits. Patient characteristics included age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. Multinomial logistic regression estimated associations of these variables with visit type. RESULTS: The total number of unique patients seen by chiropractors between March 2020 and February 2021 was 62 658. Key findings were that patients of non-White race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity were more likely to attend telehealth-only visits (Black [odds ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval {1.10-1.31}], other races [1.36 {1.16-1.59}], and Hispanic or Latino [1.35 {1.20-1.52}]) and combination telehealth and F2F care (Black [1.32 {1.25-1.40}], other races [1.37 {1.23-1.52}], and Hispanic or Latino [1.63 {1.51-1.76}]). Patients younger than 40 years of age were more likely to choose telehealth visits ([1.13 {1.02-1.26}], 66-75 years [1.17 {1.01-1.35}], and >75 years [1.26 {1.06-1.51}] vs those 40-55 years of age). Sex, visit frequency, and Charlson Comorbidity Index showed significant relationships as well, while marital status did not. CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, VHA patients with musculoskeletal complaints using chiropractic telehealth were more ethnically and racially diverse than those using F2F care alone.

Attitudes of psychiatrists toward telepsychiatry: A policy Delphi study.

Objectives: To delineate areas of consensus and disagreements among practicing psychiatrists from various levels of clinical experience, hierarchy and organizations, and to test their ability to converge toward agreement, which will enable better integration of telepsychiatry into mental health services. Methods: To study attitudes of Israeli public health psychiatrists, we utilized a policy Delphi method, during the early stages of the COVID pandemic. In-depth interviews were conducted and analyzed, and a questionnaire was generated. The questionnaire was disseminated amongst 49 psychiatrists, in two succeeding rounds, and areas of consensus and controversies were identified. Results: Psychiatrists showed an overall consensus regarding issues of economic and temporal advantages of telepsychiatry. However, the quality of diagnosis and treatment and the prospect of expanding the usage of telepsychiatry to normal circumstances-beyond situations of pandemic or emergency were disputed. Nonetheless, efficiency and willingness scales slightly improved during the 2nd round of the Delphi process. Prior experience with telepsychiatry had a strong impact on the attitude of psychiatrists, and those who were familiar with this practice were more favorable toward its usage in their clinic. Conclusions: We have delineated experience as a major impact on the attitudes toward telepsychiatry and the willingness for its assimilation in clinical practice as a legitimate and trustworthy method. We have also observed that the organizational affiliation significantly affected psychiatrists' attitude, when those working at local clinics were more positive toward telepsychiatry compared with employees of governmental institutions. This might be related to experience and differences in organizational environment. Taken together, we recommend to include hands-on training of telepsychiatry in medical education curriculum during residency, as well as refresher exercises for attending practitioners.

Attitudes of Mental Health Professionals towards Telepsychology during the Pandemic: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study investigated mental health professionals' attitudes towards remote psychological consultations and internet-based interventions. METHODS: An online survey in Italian and English was administered to a sample of 191 psychologists and psychotherapists to collect detailed information about their professional experience providing online psychological interventions a year and a half after the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. RESULTS: The results did not reveal a statistically significant association between the participants' theoretical approaches and the number of patients treated via the online modality. Overall, most of the participants found advantages to the online setting but also noted critical issues regarding privacy and the ease of integrating new technology into their clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: According to the participants, despite the challenges that must be addressed, telehealth is a viable psychological therapeutic option that is destined to grow in importance in the near future.

Evaluation of medical decision errors during the transition period to telemedicine

The context of the Coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we approach medical services. Beyond setting up new technological possibilities, it has propelled telemedicine to become a reality, bringing undeniable practical benefits. The questions that arise are both justified and worrying: can digitalization replace a direct interpersonal relationship that involves a physical examination, while preserving the quality of the medical act and the degree of patient satisfaction? Isn't there a risk that the digitization of the medical record will cancel out the deep human character of classical medicine that has evolved since the time of Hippocrates? Should the implementation of telemedicine be "the state-of-art" of modern medicine, in accordance with the co-evolution of digital technology? It is hard to believe that once used in this period, telemedicine will be abandoned. However, telemedicine must be analyzed not only in the short term but also in the long term, in order to be able to evaluate both its usefulness and possible deficiencies.

Comprehensive medication management services provided via telehealth or hybrid models: A scoping review

Comprehensive medication management (CMM) is increasingly provided by health care teams through telehealth or hybrid modalities. The purpose of this scoping literature review was to assess the published literature and examine the economic, clinical, and humanistic outcomes of CMM services provided by pharmacists via telehealth or hybrid modalities. This scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies were included if they: reported on economic, clinical, or humanistic outcomes;were conducted via telehealth or hybrid modalities;included a pharmacist on their interprofessional team;and evaluated CMM services. The search was conducted between January 1, 2000, and September 28, 2021. The search strategy was adapted for use in Medline (PubMed);Embase;Cochrane;Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature;PsychINFO;International Pharmaceutical s;Scopus;and grey literature. Four reviewers extracted data using a screening tool developed for this study and reviewed for risk of bias. Authors screened 3500 articles, from which 11 studies met the inclusion criteria (9 observational studies, 2 RCTs). In seven studies, clinical outcomes improved with telehealth CMM interventions compared to either usual care, face-to-face CMM, or educational controls, as shown by the statistically significant changes in chronic disease clinical outcomes. Two studies evaluated and found increased patient and provider satisfaction. One study described a source of revenue for a telehealth CMM service. Overall, study results indicate that telehealth CMM services, in select cases, may be associated with improved clinical outcomes, but the methods of the included studies were not homogenous enough to conclude that telehealth or hybrid modalities were superior to in-person CMM. To understand the full impact on the Quadruple Aim, additional research is needed to investigate the financial outcomes of CMM conducted using telehealth or hybrid technologies.Copyright © 2022 Pharmacotherapy Publications, Inc.

"A disembodied voice over the telephone": a qualitative study of healthcare practitioners' experiences in geriatric medicine.

OBJECTIVES: This study explored the experience of delivering care remotely among practitioners in a UK geriatric medicine clinic. METHODS: Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with consultants (n = 5), nurses (n = 2), a speech and language and an occupational therapist, and thematically analysed. RESULTS: Four themes developed; Challenges of remote consultations; Perceived advantages of remote consultations; Disruption of involvement of family members; Impact on care staff. Participants felt that rapport and trust had been more feasible to develop remotely than they had anticipated, although this was more challenging for new patients and those with cognitive or sensory impairments. While practitioners identified advantages of remote consultations, including involving relatives, saving time, and reducing anxiety, they also experienced disadvantages such as consultations feeling like a 'production line', missing visual cues and reduced privacy. Some participants felt their professional identity was threatened by the lack of face-to-face contact, linked to feeling that remote consultations are not suitable for frail older adults or those with cognitive deficits. DISCUSSION: Staff perceived barriers to remote consultations that went beyond practical concerns, and suggest support for building rapport, involving families, and protecting clinician identity and job satisfaction may be warranted.

The technology acceptance model and beyond: factors influencing physicians' intention to use teleconsultations

Background/Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the implementation of telehealth and virtual care services. Clinicians must be comfortable using this technology in order for it to be developed effectively and implemented consistently. This study evaluated the influence of various factors, including those theorised in the technology acceptance model, on physicians' intention to use teleconsultations in their clinical practice in Chennai, India. Methods: A snowball sampling method was used to distribute an online survey to physicians in Chennai, India. The survey measured respondents' intention to use teleconsultations (dependent variable), along seven independent variables relating to this technology (perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, physicians' attitudes, social influences, facilitating conditions, perceived compatibility with the clinical area and trust). A total of 165 responses were collected. Results were analysed using descriptive and correlational statistics, along with multiple linear regression. Results: All seven independent variables were found to be significantly associated with the dependent variable (P<0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the independent variables accounted for 67.8% of the variance in respondents' intention to use teleconsultations. Conclusions: Physicians' intention to use teleconsultations is complex and multi-faceted. Although the factors theorised by the technology acceptance model were significantly associated with intention to use telemedicine, other factors were also found to be important, including social influences, external facilitating factors, perceived compatibility with the clinical area and personal trust in technology.

Video consultations in reproductive medicine: Safety, feasibility and patient satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: To study the safety and feasibility of virtual consultations in reproductive medicine. DESIGN: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving subfertile patients attending a video consultation between September 2021 and August 2022. Clinicians conducting virtual consultations during the same period responded to a parallel survey for healthcare professionals. SETTING: University Hospital in Manchester, UK. PARTICIPANTS: Subfertile patients attending a virtual consultation. Healthcare professionals conducting virtual consultations. INTERVENTION: The survey link was offered in 4,932 consultations. A total of 577 (11.69%) patients responded and 510 completed the questionnaire (88.3%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient satisfaction measured as the percentage of patients preferring virtual to in person consultations. RESULTS: The majority of the patients (475, 91.70%) had a positive experience with the video consultation and just under half of the patients (152, 48.65%) preferred a video consultation to an in person consultation due to cost and time savings. Most patients (375, 72.68%) felt safer and less exposed to COVID-19. When the risk of COVID-19 subsides, 242 patients (47%) would still prefer to attend video consultations, while 169 (32.82%) had no preference. Analysis of the responses from patients reporting a negative experience identified technical problems as a possible cause. The virtual consultations appeared to be suitable for patients with disabilities. The clinicians' survey identified potential legal and ethical concerns. CONCLUSION: Virtual consultations are a safe and feasible alternative to in person consultations for subfertile patients. This large cross-sectional study revealed a high rate of patient satisfaction. Appropriate patient selection accounting for IT literacy, English language understanding and preference is crucial for successful virtual consultations. Further consideration should be given to ethical and legal challenges of virtual consultations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Research Registry, UIN 6912, https://www.researchregistry.com/browse-the-registry.

Perceptions of teledermatology in the COVID-19 era: are patients ready for it?

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed care provision models, with a rapid increase in the adoption of telemedicine to reduce in-person visits. Although there are many benefits to teledermatology, there are also factors that hinder its widespread adoption. We aimed to examine patients' perceptions of teledermatology to identify the barriers to its adoption. Methods: A prospective study was conducted from 15 June to 14 August 2020. Patients were invited to complete a questionnaire in an outpatient dermatology clinic via direct approach by clinical staff or posters posted at the door of consultation rooms. Results: Out of 2,276 clinic attendances, 997 survey responses (43.8%) were collected over a 3-month period. When asked if they would change their subsequent visit to teledermatology, 294 (29.5%) patients were keen, 166 (16.6%) were unsure and 537 (53.9%) declined. Significant factors for declining teledermatology were lack of prior exposure to videoconferencing (P < 0.01) and lower educational level (P = 0.019). Patients also raised concerns regarding the ability of teledermatology to address medical concerns (32.1%) and indicated a preference for face-to-face consultation (29.7%). Conclusion: Factors that influence patients' decision to adopt teledermatology, such as concerns about its ability to address medical issues, lack of IT literacy or experience in teleconferencing, are modifiable. Targeted strategies such as careful patient selection, a dedicated teleconsultation workflow, and the use of a novel 'teledermatology patient journey' (including a clinic walkthrough at the first visit) and an intuitive audio-enabled user interface, may improve patient perceptions and adoption of teleconsultation service.

Virtual consulting in the times of COVID-19

Background: Confinement and economic uncertainty, along with disease-specific issues such as pain and suffering may uniquely impact rheumatology patients, putting non-COVID morbidity at par with COVID-related losses.Methods: We conducted a review of records to explore the clinical profile and interventions in rheumatology patients at a tertiary care center in Northern India to identify the potential problems and propose direction for the future.Results: In our experience spanning 5 weeks, among 508 rheumatology patients who sought teleconsultations, rheumatoid arthritis was the most common diagnosis (35.2'), and 43' were asked to continue the same treatment over tele consults, whereas investigations were awaited for another 16'. Nearly one-third (29.9') required an intervention, though this largely consisted of dose titrations (104 of 152, 68.4'). Certain diseases such as myositis were under-represented among consults (1.2') but over-represented (33.3') among admissions. Among the 54 patients who were asked to rate their teleconsultation experience, the voice and consultation quality were rated and average of 9.9 each, and 88.9' (48/54) said they would prefer teleconsultations until the pandemic is over.Conclusion: A sizeable proportion of rheumatology patients can be managed with teleconsultations, with some requiring greater assistance, calling for a triage protocol for the times ahead. With propositions for a deliberate transition into the realm of virtual consulting, chronic caregivers can hope to reach an optimal balance between e-consults and in-person visits.

The impact of remote care approaches on continuity in primary care: a mixed-studies systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The value of continuity in primary care has been demonstrated for multiple positive outcomes. However, little is known about how the expansion of remote and digital care models in primary care have impacted continuity. AIM: To explore the impact of the expansion of remote and digital care models on continuity in primary care. DESIGN AND SETTING: A systematic review of continuity in primary care. METHOD: A keyword search of Embase, MEDLINE, and CINAHL databases was used along with snowball sampling to identify relevant English-language qualitative and quantitative studies from any country between 2000 and 2022, which explored remote or digital approaches in primary care and continuity. Relevant data were extracted, analysed using GRADE-CERQual, and narratively synthesised. RESULTS: Fifteen studies were included in the review. The specific impact of remote approaches on continuity was rarely overtly addressed. Some patients expressed a preference for relational continuity depending on circumstance, problem, and context; others prioritised access. Clinicians valued continuity, with some viewing remote consultations more suitable where there was high episodic or relational continuity. With lower continuity, patients and clinicians considered remote consultations harder, higher risk, and poorer quality. Some evidence suggested that remote approaches and/or their implementation risked worsening inequalities and causing harm by reducing continuity where it was valuable. However, if deployed strategically and flexibly, remote approaches could improve continuity. CONCLUSION: While the value of continuity in primary care has previously been well demonstrated, the dearth of evidence around continuity in a remote and digital context is troubling. Further research is, therefore, needed to explore the links between the shift to remote care, continuity and equity, using real-world evaluation frameworks to ascertain when and for whom continuity adds most value, and how this can be enabled or maintained.

Use of Telemedicine in Pediatric Services for 4 Representative Clinical Conditions: Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine is becoming routine in health care. Postpandemic, a universal return to face-to-face consultations may risk a loss of some of the advantages of telemedicine. However, rapid implementation and adoption without robust evaluation of usability, efficacy, and effectiveness could potentially lead to suboptimal health outcomes and downstream challenges to providers. OBJECTIVE: This review assesses telemedicine interventions against international guidance and sufficiency of evidence to support postpandemic utilization in pediatric settings. METHODS: This scoping review was performed following searches on PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL databases on April 15, 2021, and May 31, 2022, and examined studies focused on telemedicine, remote consultation, video call, or remote patient monitoring in children (0-18 years) receiving outpatient care for diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, or renal disease. Exclusion criteria included studies published before 2011 as the technologies used have likely been improved or replaced, studies in adult populations or where it was not possible to disaggregate data for participants younger than 18 years as the focus of the review was on pediatric care, and studies not published in English. Data were extracted by 4 authors, and the data were corroborated by a second reviewer. Studies were examined for feasibility and usability, clinical and process outcomes, and cost-effectiveness. RESULTS: Of the 3158 studies identified, 56 were suitable for final inclusion and analysis. Data on feasibility or usability of interventions (48 studies) were overwhelmingly positive in support of telemedicine interventions, with common themes including convenience, perceived cost savings, and ease of use. However, use in preference to usual care was rarely explored. Clinical and process outcome data (31 studies) were mostly positive. Across all studies, there was limited measurement of standardized clinical outcomes, although these were more commonly reported in asthma (peak flow) and diabetes (glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c]). Implementation science data generally supported cost-effectiveness of telemedicine with a reduction of health care costs. CONCLUSIONS: There is promising evidence supporting telemedicine in pediatric settings. However, there is a lack of evaluation of telemedicine in comparison with usual outpatient care for noninferiority of clinical outcomes, and this review highlights the need for a more standardized approach to evaluation of digital interventions.

Physicians' satisfaction with the use of teleconsultation in France

Background: Physicians are showing a growing interest in teleconsultation, particularly since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Surveying physicians' satisfaction with telehealth helps identify areas of strength and weaknesses that need improvement to support the promotion of telemedicine in the future. This study aimed to evaluate physician satisfaction rates and perspectives on teleconsultation. Methods: A 20-item online survey on teleconsultation use, including benefits, disadvantages, and suggested optimal modalities, was distributed and collected anonymously among physicians working at a university hospital. Results: Out of 145 physicians who responded, 73.8% were satisfied with teleconsultation, and 79.3% considered that this service will persist in the future. The main disadvantages raised by the physicians were the use of the telephone for remote consultation, the risk of dehumanization of the doctor-patient relationship, and the belief of a greater risk of medical errors than in a face-to-face setting. Of the doctors who responded to our survey, 54% said that the time needed for a teleconsultation should be similar to that of a face-to-face consultation, i.e., 15 to 20 minutes. Conclusions: Most physicians were satisfied with teleconsultation. However, improvements in digital tools such as usability and efficiency are necessary for teleconsultation development in the future. Alongside these technological imperatives, the fear of an increase in medical errors and dehumanization of the doctor-patient relationship are issues that must be closely considered to promote telemedicine in medical practice. © 2023 Journal of Hospital Management and Health Policy.

Role of Telemedicine and Digital Technology in Public Health in India: A Narrative Review.

There are still many areas of India without proper medical facilities. In such a setting, technology can play a facilitating role, particularly in reaching out to remote locations and offering a greater standard of care at a lower cost. The method of treating and diagnosing patients remotely through communication networks is known as telemedicine. When more patients get access to telemedicine, payers take more notice of how much less expensive it is than traditional medicine, and doctors are aware of its benefits. Telemedicine is a more beneficial technology that can expand access to preventive treatment and may lead to long-term health. Telemedicine has the potential to greatly affect public health. This paper reviews the current state of the art of telemedicine in India. Nearly 50 years ago, telemedicine was shrugged off as a complicated, expensive, and inefficient technology. Because of how quickly the information technology and telecommunications disciplines are advancing, telemedicine is today a viable, dependable, and useful technique. Practitioners and medical experts from a variety of fields have experienced success with telemedicine. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for strong primary healthcare networks for a more effective public health response during health emergencies and exposed the fragmentation of healthcare delivery systems. Although primary care is the first point of contact between the general public and the healthcare system, it has not recently grown much focus or funding. Even in the post-COVID-19 environment, telemedicine offers the potential to get through enduring barriers to primary care in India, such as a shortage of qualified medical professionals, issues with access, and the cost of in-person care. Telemedicine has the power to speed up the delivery of universal health coverage while strengthening primary care. There is a widening gap between people and those who offer basic health services as the population in India has grown, and the average lifespan has increased. Telemedicine helps with palliative care, early identification, a better cure, prevention, and rehabilitation in the treatment of cancer. Due to a shortage of primary care delivery networks and referral units, secondary and tertiary care facilities' health systems are overworked. To successfully use telemedicine, proper planning and operating processes are required. Thus, the development and implementation of telemedicine will improve patient care and India's primary healthcare system in the future. Finally, telemedicine's cost-effectiveness will likely be its most significant outcome.

Quality comparison of remote anesthetic consultation versus on-site consultation in children with sedation for a magnetic resonance imaging examination-A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In the course of the corona pandemic, digital media has increasingly been used in many areas of medical practice to reduce personal contact. As it is of interest whether this can be practiced in the context of anesthesia consultations without loss of quality, we interviewed parents whose children received a cardiac or neuro magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) under sedation. Parents either received an on-site or a remote consultation conducted by an anesthesiologist. Both parents and anesthesiologist were asked to indicate their satisfaction with the respective consultation procedure in a questionnaire. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate if remote pre-anesthesia consultation, supported by an online video, for parents whose children are receiving MRI examinations under sedation can replace the commonly performed on-site consultation, without decreasing its quality. METHODS: In this randomized trial, a total of 200 patients were included, one half received pre-anesthesia consultation on-site and the other half was given a link to a video and pre-anesthesia consultation was conducted by phone. As a primary analysis, we compared the level of satisfaction for the general procedure, the quality of the pre-anesthesia consultation and the contact to the anesthesiologists (or parents). We further investigated the frequency of complications and the preference for a possible next informed consent. RESULTS: Both groups showed high levels of satisfaction. Some anesthesiologists and parents were less satisfied with the quality of on-site pre-anesthesia consultation than with the remote. In our patient cohort, there was no evidence for higher risk of complications when information was provided by telephone. Further, parents as well as anesthesiologists clearly favored the combined form of telephone information and online video. Overall, 61.2% of parents and 64% of anesthesiologists would choose this form of pre-anesthesia consultation for repeat anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: We did not observe that combined telephone and video decreased the quality of pre-anesthesia consultation. A remote version seems feasible for simple procedures such as sedation for MRI. Further research on this topic in other areas of anesthesia would be beneficial.