Community Factors Associated With Telemedicine Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Patel SY
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8132134 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:BackgroundTo characterize various aspects of telemedicine use by pediatric rheumatology providers during the recent pandemic including provider acceptability of telehealth practices, clinical reliability, and clinical appropriateness.MethodsAn electronic survey was generated and disseminated amongst the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) listserv (n = 547). Survey items were analyzed via descriptive statistics by question.ResultsThe survey response rate was 40.8% (n = 223) with the majority of respondents in an attending-level role. We observed that musculoskeletal components of the exam were rated as the most reliable components of a telemedicine exam and 86.5% of survey respondents reported engaging the patient or patient caregiver to help conduct the virtual exam. However, 65.7% of providers reported not being able to elicit the information needed from a telemedicine visit to make a complete clinical assessment. We also noted areas of disagreement regarding areas of patient engagement and confidentiality. We found that approximately one-third (35.8%) of those surveyed felt that their level of burnout was increased due to telemedicine.ConclusionIn general, providers found exam reliability (specifically around focused musculoskeletal elements) in telemedicine visits but overall felt that they were unable to generate the information needed to generate a complete clinical assessment. Additionally, there were suggestions that patient engagement and confidentiality varied during telemedicine visits when compared to in-person clinical visits. Further qualitative work is needed to fully explore telemedicine use in pediatric rheumatology.
| S-EPMC8206874 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to a notable increase in telemedicine adoption. However, the impact of the pandemic on telemedicine use at a population level in rural and remote settings remains unclear.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate changes in the rate of telemedicine use among rural populations and identify patient characteristics associated with telemedicine use prior to and during the pandemic.MethodsWe conducted a repeated cross-sectional study on all monthly and quarterly rural telemedicine visits from January 2012 to June 2020, using administrative data from Ontario, Canada. We compared the changes in telemedicine use among residents of rural and urban regions of Ontario prior to and during the pandemic.ResultsBefore the pandemic, telemedicine use was steadily low in 2012-2019 for both rural and urban populations but slightly higher overall for rural patients (11 visits per 1000 patients vs 7 visits per 1000 patients in December 2019, P<.001). The rate of telemedicine visits among rural patients significantly increased to 147 visits per 1000 patients in June 2020. A similar but steeper increase (P=.15) was observed among urban patients (220 visits per 1000 urban patients). Telemedicine use increased across all age groups, with the highest rates reported among older adults aged ≥65 years (77 visits per 100 patients in 2020). The proportions of patients with at least 1 telemedicine visit were similar across the adult age groups (n=82,246/290,401, 28.3% for patients aged 18-49 years, n=79,339/290,401, 27.3% for patients aged 50-64 years, and n=80,833/290,401, 27.8% for patients aged 65-79 years), but lower among younger patients <18 years (n=23,699/290,401, 8.2%) and older patients ≥80 years (n=24,284/290,401, 8.4%) in 2020 (P<.001). There were more female users than male users of telemedicine (n=158,643/290,401, 54.6% vs n=131,758/290,401, 45.4%, respectively, in 2020; P<.001). There was a significantly higher proportion of telemedicine users residing in relatively less rural than in more rural regions (n=261,814/290,401, 90.2% vs n=28,587/290,401, 9.8%, respectively, in 2020; P<.001).ConclusionsTelemedicine adoption increased in rural and remote areas during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its use increased in urban and less rural populations. Future studies should investigate the potential barriers to telemedicine use among rural patients and the impact of rural telemedicine on patient health care utilization and outcomes.
| S-EPMC8023379 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Introduction In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many medical providers have turned to telemedicine as an alternative method to provide ambulatory patient care. Perspectives of endocrine surgery patients regarding this mode of healthcare delivery remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the opinions and perspectives of endocrine surgery patients regarding telemedicine. Methods The first 100 adult patients who had their initial telemedicine appointment with two endocrine surgeons were contacted at the conclusion of their visit. The survey administered assessed satisfaction with telemedicine, the provider, and whether attire or video background played a role in their perception of the quality of care received using a 5-point Likert scale. Differences in responses between new and returning patients were also evaluated. Results Telemedicine endocrine surgery patients stated excellent satisfaction with their visit (4.89 out of 5) and their provider (4.96 out of 5). While there was less consensus that telemedicine was equivalent to in-person or face-to face clinic visits (4.15 out of 5), patients would recommend a telemedicine visit to others and most agreed that this modality made it easier to obtain healthcare (4.7 out of 5). Attire of the provider and video background did not influence patient opinion in regard to the quality of care they received. Returning patients were more likely to be satisfied with this modality (4.94 vs 4.73, p = 0.02) compared to new patients. Conclusion This study shows that telemedicine does not compromise patient satisfaction or healthcare delivery for patients and is a viable clinic option for endocrine surgery.
| S-EPMC8712268 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceThe COVID-19 pandemic is changing how health care providers practice. As some telemedicine and telecommunication support tools have been incorporated into the otolaryngology practice in response to safety and access demands, it is essential to review how these tools and services can help facilitate facial trauma evaluation during a time when clinical resources are limited.ObjectiveTo review applications of telemedicine for the evaluation of facial trauma to better direct utilization of these methods and technologies during times of limited access to clinical resources such as the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.ResultsAfter screening 158 titles and abstracts, we identified 16 eligible studies involving facial trauma evaluation using telemedicine. Telemedicine opportunities for facial trauma evaluation have the potential to be developed in the areas of multidisciplinary remote consultations, facial trauma triage, patient engagement, and postoperative follow-up.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic is posing obstacles for both providers and patients in the delivery of health care at a time of limited clinical resources. Telemedicine may provide a potential useful tool in the evaluation and triage of facial injuries and patient engagement.
| S-EPMC7362048 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe rapid spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 and the implementation of quarantine in many European countries led to a swift change in health care delivery. Telemedicine was implemented in many otolaryngological departments to ensure the continuous care. The purpose of this study is to report our experience about telemedicine in 86 patients consulting virtually in our departments.MethodsA total of 86 patients benefited from telemedicine consultation from April to Mai May 2020. Patients and physicians were invited to fulfill a satisfaction survey over the 3 days after the consultation.ResultsPatients consulted in the following fields: laryngology, voice and swallowing (N=15; 17.4%), head and neck or plastic surgery (N=34; 39.5%), rhinology (N=31; 36.1%) and otology (N=6; 7.0%). Practitioners estimated that the clinical examination would not have changed the consultation issue in 73.2% of cases. The realization of delayed clinical examination was rapidly necessary in 9.3% of cases and useless in 33.7% of cases. Five percent of patients estimated that the consultation did not bring reliable conclusion. Although the majority of patient (87.7%) would recommend telemedicine consultation to friend/family in the context of pandemic, only 44.6% would accept to replace office- consultation by telemedicine consultation outside the pandemic.ConclusionTelemedicine appears to be an interesting alternative approach in situation of pandemic and lock-down. Because the patient motivation to further participate to telemedicine appears to be conditioned by the context, efforts are still required to understand the patient perception, satisfaction and fears in view of future implementation outside pandemic.
| S-EPMC7848874 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Understanding provider perspectives on telemedicine adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic can help inform best practices for delivering pediatric ophthalmic care safely and remotely. In this online survey distributed to two national pediatric ophthalmology list-servs, respondents in July-August 2020 (n = 104) compared with respondents in March-April 2020 (n = 171) were more likely to report not using and not planning on using telemedicine. The July-August respondents who did not use telemedicine were concerned about the limitations in care provided, challenges with implementation, and perceived negative effects on the doctor-patient relationship. These findings demonstrate a lack of sustained uptake of telemedicine in the first 6 months of the pandemic and concerns that should be addressed to facilitate integration of this approach in pediatric ophthalmic care.
| S-EPMC8479503 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spurred a rapid rise in telemedicine, but it is unclear how use has varied by clinical and patient factors during the pandemic. We examined the variation in total outpatient visits and telemedicine use across patient demographics, specialties, and conditions in a database of 16.7 million commercially insured and Medicare Advantage enrollees from January to June 2020. During the pandemic, 30.1 percent of all visits were provided via telemedicine, and the weekly number of visits increased twenty-three-fold compared with the prepandemic period. Telemedicine use was lower in communities with higher rates of poverty (31.9 percent versus 27.9 percent for the lowest and highest quartiles of poverty rate, respectively). Across specialties, the use of any telemedicine during the pandemic ranged from 68 percent of endocrinologists to 9 percent of ophthalmologists. Across common conditions, the percentage of visits provided during the pandemic via telemedicine ranged from 53 percent for depression to 3 percent for glaucoma. Higher rates of telemedicine use for common conditions were associated with smaller decreases in total weekly visits during the pandemic.
| S-EPMC7967498 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed considerable strain on hospital resources. We explored whether telemedicine (defined as a videoconference) might help. We undertook prospective structured phone interviews of urological patients (n = 399). We evaluated their suitability for telemedicine (judged by a panel of four physicians) and their risks from COVID-19 (10 factors for a poor outcome), and collected willingness for telemedicine and demographic data. Risk factors for an adverse outcome from COVID-19 infection were common (94.5% had one or more) and most patients (63.2%) were judged suitable for telemedicine. When asked, 84.7% of patients wished for a telemedical rather than a face-to-face consultation. Those favouring telemedicine were younger (68 [58-75] vs 76 [70-79.2] yr, p < 0.001). There was no difference in preference with oncological (mean 86%) or benign diagnoses (mean 85%), or with COVID-19 risks factors. In subgroup analysis, men with prostate cancer preferred telemedicine (odds ratio: 2.93 [1.07-8.03], p = 0.037). We concluded that many urological patients have risk factors for a poor outcome from COVID-19 and most preferred telemedicine consultations at this time. This appears to be a solution to offer contact-free continuity of care. PATIENT SUMMARY: Risk factors for a severe course of coronavirus disease 2019 are common (94.5%) in urology patients. Most patients wished for a telemedical consultation (84.7%). This appears to be a solution to offer contact-free continuity of care.
| S-EPMC7183955 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundTo limit transmission of COVID-19, state governments issued shelter-in-place orders. These orders coincided with a decrease in daily step count and an increase in overeating. We evaluated factors associated with weight gain of ≥ 15 pounds during the pandemic within an integrated health care system.MethodsWe included adults ages 18 and above with at least one weight measurement before the pandemic (March 19, 2019-March 19, 2020) and another measurement after COVID-19 vaccines became available, more than 9 months into the pandemic (December 14, 2020-December 14, 2021). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with weight gain of 15 pounds or more.ResultsOf 524,451 adults included in the study, median age was 61 years, 43.2% were men, 36.2% self identified as White, 8.6% Black, 35.7% Hispanic, and 16.2% Asian. During the pandemic, 38,213 (7.3%) adults gained ≥ 15 pounds. A higher proportion of young adults gained weight (16.2% age 18-39, 7.6% age 40-64, 4.7% age 65-79%, and 3.1% age ≥ 80). No significant difference was observed between men and women (7.2% men and 7.4% women). Weight gain was more prevalent among adults from low-income neighborhoods (8.9% low-income neighborhoods, 8.0% intermediate-income neighborhoods, and 6.5% high-income neighborhoods). Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that compared to adults ages 65-79 years, young adults ages 18-39 years had the highest risk of gaining ≥ 15 pounds (adjusted OR 5.19, 95% CI 5.01-5.38). Black race was associated with weight gain in an unadjusted analysis (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.21-1.30). However, this association was significantly attenuated after adjusting for other risk factors including neighborhood income levels (adjusted OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.10). Having a diagnosis of depression pre-pandemic was also associated with weight gain during the pandemic (adjusted OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.50-1.58).ConclusionIn this racially and ethnically diverse population in southern California, significant weight gain of 15 pounds or more was observed in 7.3% of the adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Young adults, individuals who resided in low-income neighborhoods, and patients with depression were disproportionally affected.
| S-EPMC8938259 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveTo assess feasibility, patient satisfaction, and financial advantages of telemedicine for epilepsy ambulatory care during the current COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThe demographic and clinical characteristics of all consecutive patients evaluated via telemedicine at a level 4 epilepsy center between March 20 and April 20, 2020 were obtained retrospectively from electronic medical records. A telephone survey to assess patient satisfaction and preferences was conducted within one month following the initial visit.ResultsAmong 223 telehealth patients, 85.7% used both synchronous audio and video technology. During the visits, 39% of patients had their anticonvulsants adjusted while 18.8% and 11.2% were referred to laboratory/diagnostic testing and specialty consults, respectively. In a post-visit survey, the highest degree of satisfaction with care was expressed by 76.9% of patients. The degree of satisfaction tended to increase the further a patient lived from the clinic (p = 0.05). Beyond the pandemic, 89% of patients reported a preference for continuing telemedicine if their epilepsy symptoms remained stable, while only 44.4% chose telemedicine should their symptoms worsen. Inclement weather and lack of transportation were factors favoring continued use of telemedicine. An estimated cost saving to patient attributed to telemedicine was $30.20 ± 3.8 per visit.SignificanceOur findings suggest that epilepsy care via telemedicine provided high satisfaction and economic benefit, without compromising patients' quality of care, thereby supporting the use of virtual care during current and future epidemiological fallouts. Beyond the current pandemic, patients with stable seizure symptoms may prefer to use telemedicine for their epilepsy care.
| S-EPMC8803629 | biostudies-literature