The digital readiness of future physicians: nurturing the post-pandemic medical education.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the integration of digital technologies in the healthcare sector. Telemedicine has notably emerged as a significant tool, offering a range of benefits. However, various barriers, such as healthcare professionals' insufficient technological skills and competencies, can hinder its effective implementation. Scholars have examined the readiness of future physicians, with some studies exploring their readiness before or during the COVID-19 crisis. There is, however, a noteable gap in the literature concerning the post-pandemic period. This study aims to identify gaps in current medical education programs by examining two primary aspects: (1) technical readiness (encompassing general and health-related digital competencies) and (2) behavioural readiness, which includes prior experiences and future intentions related to telemedicine education and implementation among medical students and residents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a web-based questionnaire administered to medical students and residents at a major Northern Italian university. The survey responses were analyzed to ascertain whether their distributions varied across demographic variables such as gender and level of education. RESULTS: The most commonly owned technologies were laptops and smartphones, with smartphones perceived as the easiest to use, while desktop computers presented more challenges. Approximately 38% of respondents expressed apprehension about applying digital health information in decision-making processes. There was a significant lack of both personal and academic experience, with only 16% of students and residents having used telemedicine in a university setting. Despite this, 83% of participants expressed a desire for training in telemedicine, and 81% were open to experimenting with it during their academic journey. Moreover, 76% of respondents expressed interest in incorporating telemedicine into their future clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the need for medical students and residents to receive specific education in digital health and telemedicine. Introducing curricula and courses in this domain is critical to addressing the challenges of digital healthcare.

A pediatric telecardiology system that facilitates integration between hospital-based services and community-based primary care.

INTRODUCTION: Telecardiology has emerged as a vital field within telemedicine, fostering collaboration between hospital and community medicine. This pilot study introduces an innovative pediatric telecardiology system, comprising a telecardiology system seamlessly integrated with a hospital telemedicine platform. A smooth flow of ECG execution, transmission, and reporting between Primary Care Pediatrician clinics and the hospital was tested as the primary objective. User experience surveys were also considered. METHODS: The study involved three Primary Care Pediatrician clinics, and the enrollment of children took place consecutively from January to July 2023. We integrated a digital electrocardiographic signal acquisition unit and online information transmission-capable tablets, that were provided to the pediatricians, with a telemedicine multitenant platform that facilitated the transmission of the patient's ECG data from the community to the Hospital Pediatric Cardiologist. RESULTS: A total of 158 children (80 M/78F, 8.9 ± 2.8 yrs) underwent ECG recording (78.5 % medical certificates, 21.5 % presence of symptoms) The transmission and reporting of ECGs were successfully completed in all cases, without technical issues. Normal findings on the ECG were demonstrated in 94.9 % of children. 70.8 % of respondents completed all parts of the survey. Respondents had a high level of education (90 %) and demonstrated excellent or good competence in using digital technologies (89 %). 51 % of respondents were not familiar with the term "Telemedicine" and 81 % of the cases had no previous telemedicine experience. 90 % of users were very satisfied or satisfied with the service. Connection problems (2.8 %) and concerns about the service's reliability compared to standard care (3.7 %) were mentioned as possible limitations of the telecardiology. CONCLUSIONS: Our pediatric telecardiology system offers a valuable diagnostic tool to enhance patient management in the community.

Leveraging User-Friendly Mobile Medical Devices to Facilitate Early Hospital Discharges in a Pediatric Setting: A Randomized Trial Study Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Mobile technology is increasingly prevalent in healthcare, serving various purposes, including remote health monitoring and patient self-management, which could prove beneficial to early hospital discharges. AIMS: This study investigates the transitional care program experience facilitating early discharges in a pediatric setting through the use of an easy-to-use mobile medical device (TytoCare™, TytoCare Ltd., Natanya, Israel). OUTCOMES: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of telehomecare in achieving complete resolution of diseases without readmission, compare the length of stay between intervention and standard care groups, and gather user and professional experiences. METHODS: A randomized open-label, controlled pilot study enrolled 102 children, randomly assigned to the telehomecare (TELE) group (n = 51, adopting early hospital discharge with continued home monitoring) or the standard-of-care (STAND) group (n = 51). Primary outcomes include complete disease resolution without readmission. Secondary objectives include recording a shorter length of stay in the intervention group. Surveys on user and professional experiences were conducted. A group of 51 children declining telemedicine services (NO-TELE) was also included. RESULTS: In the TELE group, 100% of children achieved complete disease resolution without readmission, with a median duration of stay of 4 days, significantly shorter than the 7 days in the STAND group (p = 0.01). The telemedicine system demonstrated efficient performance and high satisfaction levels. The NO-TELE group showed no significant differences in demographics or digital technology competence. Perceived benefits of telemedicine included time and cost savings, reduced hospital stays, and technology utility and usability. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that user-friendly mobile medical devices effectively facilitate early hospital discharges in a pediatric setting. These devices serve as a bridge between home and hospital, optimizing care pathways.