Factors influencing online orthopedic doctor-patient consultations.

BACKGROUND: Online doctor-patient consultation is a new option for orthopedic patients in China to obtain a diagnosis and treatment advice. This study explores the factors associated with online consultation to formulate operational guidelines for managing online consultations in an online medical community (OMC). METHODS: An empirical model was developed to identify the factors that influence online orthopedic doctor-patient consultations in an OMC while focusing on the perceived value of and perceived trust in online consultations. The moderating effects of different risk categories of orthopedic diseases were also considered. Data from 339 feedback surveys from orthopedic patients who used online consultation services and Stata software version 14.0 were used to estimate the model parameters and test the robustness of the empirical model. RESULTS: Of those who completed the feedback surveys, 53.42% were female patients, 82.27% were between 18 and 60 years old, and 61.98% sought consultations online more than 2 times per year. Model analysis demonstrated that the regression coefficients of the perceived value of and perceived trust in online consultations are 0.489 (p < 0.01) and 0.505 (p < 0.01), respectively. The interaction coefficient between disease risk and perceived value is 0.336 (p < 0.01), and the interaction coefficient between disease risk and perceived trust is - 0.389 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Orthopedic patients' perceived value of and perceived trust in online consultations in an OMC can significantly influence their intention to seek online disease diagnosis and treatment consultations. The effects of perceived value and perceived trust on patients' intention to consult vary significantly across different disease risk categories. Therefore, enhancing the perceived value and perceived trust of orthopedic patients is an important component of OMC operation and management.

Traumatic orthopedic consultations in COVID-19 inpatients - A cross sectional analysis of results and a review of lessons in tele-orthopedics.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 has led to intricate global challenges, among these, the impact on emergency and elective orthopedic services. Patients with COVID-19 often complain of musculoskeletal symptoms. The subsequent orthopedic consultations require careful assessment of possible inpatient trauma and to rule out any injuries that require active management. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis involving 13,580 admitted patients in a national quarantine center between March 2020 and April 2021. All patients with orthopedic consultations were included in the study, and were assessed by orthopedic surgeons in person. Patients were further evaluated for age, sex, presence of trauma, cause for consultation, diagnosis and management. RESULTS: Seventy-five orthopedic consultations were included, 44% females and 56% males. Of the 75 consultations, 29 (38%) were related to a history of inpatient trauma. Of the 29 cases, 11 sustained fractures of the distal radius, proximal humerus, femoral neck, clavicle and ankle. Four of which were treated operatively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Inpatient orthopedic consultations must be assessed carefully to avoid misdiagnoses. Elderly or frail patients are more likely to both; sustain trauma and fractures. Potential limitations of tele-orthopedics may be apparent here, especially in the presence of technological incompetence and high likelihood of fractures.

Patient preferences for total knee replacement surgery: Relationship to clinical outcomes and stability of patient preferences over 2 years.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the relationship between patient preferences for total knee replacement (TKR) with receipt of TKR, and assess participant characteristics that may influence change in willingness to undergo TKR. METHODS: Structured interviews of knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients were conducted. Logistic regression models were conducted to assess the association between baseline willingness and eventual receipt of TKR, adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Mixed models for repeated measures were used to estimate the effects of sex, race, social support, Δ WOMAC, and orthopedic consult on change in willingness. RESULTS: A total of 589 participants were willing, and 215 participants were unwilling to undergo TKR. Willing participants, compared to others, were more often White (69.4% vs. 48.4%), with more than a high school education (60.8% vs. 47.0%) and employed (39.1% vs. 26.5%). At follow-up, the odds of having TKR were twice as high among those who were willing to have the procedure at baseline, but this was no longer significant when adjusted for demographic variables (adjusted OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 0.89-3.69). Willingness to undergo TKR declined over 2 years. Among those who were willing to undergo TKR at baseline but did not obtain one, only 66.5% were still willing at the 2-year follow-up. This decline was less among those who had a greater increase (>median) in WOMAC disability (adjusted Δ = -0.34, 95% CI: -0.47 to -0.20) than those who had minimal change in their WOMAC disability (p = 0.08). The decline in willingness was also less among those who had seen an orthopedic surgeon (adjusted Δ = -0.32, 95% CI: -0.46 to -0.17) than those who did not (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preference for TKR was consistent with TKR surgery utilization, but not after controlling for patient demographic characteristics. Willingness to undergo TKR declined over time, but this decrease was mitigated by worsening OA-related disability and by consultation with an orthopedic surgeon.

La teoría de colas en la consulta de ortopedia / La théorie des queues dans le service d'orthopédie / The theory of queues in orthopedics clinic

Introducción: Saber lo que piensan los pacientes en relación con el cuidado que se les brinda y el grado de satisfacción que poseen es una oportunidad para construir un indicador de resultado que indique al personal de salud cuáles son las transformaciones e innovaciones pertinentes. Objetivo: Evaluar el nivel de satisfacción del paciente y la atención brindada en la consulta ortopédica a través de la teoría de colas. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal, experimental y prospectivo. El universo de trabajo fue un área de la consulta de ortopedia (muestra = 96 pacientes), en una entidad hospitalaria del municipio holguinero, en el primer trimestre de 2016. Se determinó el índice de satisfacción del paciente en la consulta y se diagnosticaron las líneas de esperas (parámetros evaluados) a través de la teoría de colas. A su vez, se utilizaron técnicas estadísticas de ortopedia mediante el método de pronósticos como la regresión y las pruebas no paramétricas. Resultados: Se determinó un índice de satisfacción del paciente con la consulta de 1,827. Se detectaron problemas en la accesibilidad. Se corroboraron deficiencias en la asignación de turnos y poco aprovechamiento del sistema. Se evidenció que las colas se comportaron de manera regular. Quedó demostrada la necesidad de aumentar la demanda del servicio ortopédico para mejorar la accesibilidad en la consulta. Conclusiones: Los hospitales deben prestarle gran importancia a la calidad asistencial para lograr un alto nivel de satisfacción en los pacientes. Con esta investigación se comprobó que la teoría de colas es una de las técnicas más pertinentes en la gestión de las líneas de espera y, por tanto, permite evaluar la satisfacción de los pacientes en la consulta(AU)

Introduction: Knowing what patients think about the care they are given and their degree of satisfaction is an opportunity to construct a result indicator that tells health personnel what the relevant transformations and innovations should be. Objective: To evaluate, through the waiting lines, the level of patient satisfaction and the care provided in the orthopedic consultation. Methods: A descriptive, longitudinal, experimental and prospective study was carried out. The universe of work was an area of the orthopedic consultation (sample = 96 patients), in a hospital entity in Holguin municipality, in 2016 first quarter. The patient satisfaction index was determined in the orthopedic consultation using Saaty mathematician multi-criteria method and the waiting lines (evaluated parameters) were diagnosed through the queuing theory. In turn, statistical forecasting techniques were used, such as regression and nonparametric tests. Results: The patient satisfaction index was determined with the consultation of 1,827. Accessibility problems were detected. Deficiencies in scheduling appointments and little use of the system were corroborated. It was shown queues behaved in a regular manner. The need to increase the orthopedic service was demonstrated to improve accessibility in the consultation. Conclusions: Hospitals must pay much attention to the quality of care to achieve high level of patient satisfaction. This research proved that queuing theory is one of the most relevant techniques in the management of waiting lines and, therefore, this theory allows to measure the satisfaction of patients in the orthopedic consultation(AU)

Introduction: Le fait de savoir ce que les patients pensent des soins de santé fournis et quel est leur degré de satisfaction constitue une opportunité pour créer un indicateur de résultats montrant au personnel médical quelles sont les changements et les innovations nécessaires pour améliorer le service. Objectif: Évaluer le niveau de satisfaction du patient et les soins de santé fournis dans un service d'orthopédie à travers des files d'attente. Méthodes: Une étude descriptive, longitudinale, expérimentale et prospective a été réalisée au premier trimestre de 2016 dans un service d'orthopédie (échantillon = 96 patients) d'un centre hospitalier de la municipalité de Holguín. Le taux de satisfaction du patient dans le service d'orthopédie a été déterminé par la méthode mathématique d'analyse multicritère de Saaty, tandis que les files d'attente (paramètres évalués) ont été définies par la théorie des queues. En même temps, on a utilisé des techniques statistiques de pronostic telles que la régression et les tests non paramétriques. Résultats: Le taux de satisfaction du patient a été déterminé par la consultation de 1 827 patients. On a trouvé des problèmes d'accessibilité au service, une mauvaise distribution des consultations programmées, et une faible utilisation du système. On a également constaté que le comportement des files d'attente n'était pas optimal. On a mis en évidence que la demande du service d'orthopédie doit augmenter pour améliorer l'accessibilité aux consultations. Conclusions: Les hôpitaux doivent prêter attention à la qualité des soins de santé pour atteindre un haut niveau de satisfaction des patients. Cette étude a démontré que la théorie des queues est l'une des techniques les plus appropriées pour la gestion des files d'attente et, par conséquent, permet d'évaluer la satisfaction des patients en consultation(AU)