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Participant satisfaction and comfort with multidisciplinary pediatric telemedicine consultations
1Department of Paediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Telemedicine consultations (TMC) offer significant cost savings and high satisfaction for families using distant pediatric tertiary care. Patient privacy, camera comfort, and specialist comfort are key to successful implementation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Telemedicine Technology
- Patient Satisfaction Studies
Background:
- Access to distant pediatric tertiary care presents logistical and financial challenges for families.
- Telecommunication technologies offer a potential solution for delivering specialized healthcare services remotely.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate family satisfaction and comfort levels with telemedicine consultations (TMC).
- To estimate cost savings for families utilizing TMC for pediatric tertiary care.
- To identify factors influencing satisfaction with remote healthcare services.
Main Methods:
- A trial involving 140 children receiving TMC from a tertiary care center 840 miles away.
- Anonymous quality management surveys assessing cost savings, comfort, and satisfaction.
- Statistical analysis including chi2 and logistic regression to identify predictors of satisfaction.
Main Results:
- 74% of families responded, reporting a mean estimated cost saving of $1,318.
- Patient comfort significantly increased after TMC (58% to 77%, P = .005).
- 71% of families reported complete satisfaction; key predictors of satisfaction included privacy, camera comfort, and perceived specialist comfort.
Conclusions:
- TMC provides substantial financial benefits and is well-received by families and children.
- Addressing patient privacy, camera comfort, and specialist comfort is crucial for effective telemedicine implementation.
- Telemedicine is a viable and accepted method for extending pediatric tertiary care services.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to measure both satisfaction and comfort levels and estimates of cost savings of families with children receiving health care services from a distant pediatric tertiary care center by readily available telecommunications technologies.
Methods:
From February 1996 to September 1997, 140 children at a site 840 miles from the tertiary care center were seen during an evaluative trial of telemedicine consultations (TMC). The TMC visit was the initial encounter with the tertiary care specialist for 31 children. After consultation, each family was asked to complete an anonymous quality management survey that asked for estimates of cost savings and assessed their level of comfort and satisfaction with 13 other aspects of the TMC encounter. A 3- or 5-point Likert scale was used for each question. Comfort scores before and after each consultation were compared by chi2 analysis. Logistic regression was used to determine the independent predictors of satisfaction.
Results:
104 of the 140 (74%) families responded. Mean patient estimated cost savings was $1,318+/-677. The highest level of comfort was noted by 58% of respondents before TMC and by 77% after (P = .005). On a 5-point scale, 71% scored 5 (completely satisfied). None scored less than 3. The independent statistically significant predictors of satisfaction were concerns about privacy, comfort with the camera, and perceived specialist comfort.
Conclusions:
In addition to providing financial savings, TMC is well accepted by families and children. Those using this new technology must give special attention to issues of patient privacy, camera comfort, and specialist comfort.