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A pilot study of the effectiveness of home teleconsultations in paediatric palliative care
Natalie Bradford1, Jeanine Young, Nigel R Armfield
1Centre for Online Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. n.bradford@uq.edu.au
Insights
Home telehealth consultations for paediatric palliative care were feasible and acceptable for caregivers. While the pilot study showed no difference in quality-of-life scores, it provided valuable insights for future interventions.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care
- Telehealth
- Paediatric Healthcare
Background:
- Home-based palliative care presents unique challenges for families.
- Effective support is crucial for managing complex paediatric palliative care needs at home.
- Caregiver well-being is a significant factor in successful home-based care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of a home telehealth service for paediatric palliative care consultations.
- To assess the feasibility and acceptability of home telehealth in this population.
- To identify key factors influencing study success and caregiver quality-of-life domains.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study design with non-randomized control and intervention groups.
- Intervention group received usual care plus home telehealth consultations.
- Primary outcome measure was caregiver quality-of-life score, surveyed up to 99 days.
Main Results:
- Descriptive analysis revealed no significant differences in quality-of-life scores between groups.
- Home telehealth consultations were found to be a feasible and acceptable method.
- Valuable lessons were learned regarding study design and intervention targets.
Conclusions:
- Home telehealth is a viable option for delivering paediatric palliative care consultations.
- This service can potentially reduce the burden on families during difficult times.
- Further research is needed to optimize interventions for caregiver quality-of-life in paediatric palliative care.
Abstract:
We conducted a pilot study to investigate the effectiveness of a home telehealth service for paediatric palliative care consultations. Over a 10 week period, 14 of the 17 caregivers approached to be part of the study agreed to participate. Families were allocated, non-randomly, to a control group (usual care) or an intervention group (usual care with the addition of home telehealth consultations). The primary outcome measure was quality-of-life score. Caregivers were surveyed for up to 99 days following recruitment. A descriptive analysis of the quality-of-life data showed no differences between caregivers in the two groups. However, important lessons were learnt regarding factors which influence the success of studies in this population group, and the domains of caregiver quality-of-life that warrant intervention. Palliative care is complex, and multiple interventions and supports are required if care is to be managed at home. Home telehealth consultations are a feasible and acceptable means of facilitating a palliative care consultation which can reduce the burden on families at a distressing time.
