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BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a global reduction in health care accessibility for both infected and noninfected patients, posing a particular burden on those with chronic conditions, including mental health issues. Peru experienced significant devastation from the pandemic, resulting in a collapsed health care system and leading to the world's highest per capita mortality rate as a result of COVID-19. Understanding the trends in health care utilization, particularly in mental health care, is crucial for informing pandemic response efforts and guiding future recovery strategies. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the trends of outpatient medical and psychiatric consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic in a national hospital in Peru. METHODS: This observational study was conducted at a national hospital in Lima, Peru. We analyzed data on user care across all services, including psychiatric services, from May 2019 to December 2022. The data were calculated for users served per month, including the number of users seen monthly in mental health services. Sociodemographic variables such as sex (female or male), age (≥0 years), type of medical appointment (regular or additional), and modality of care (in-person or teleconsultations) were taken into account. An interrupted time series regression model was conducted to assess the number of outpatient medical and psychiatric consultations. Subgroup analyses were performed based on service modality, including overall consultations, telemonitoring/teleconsultations only, or face-to-face only, for all service users and for mental health service users. RESULTS: A total of 1,515,439 participants were included, with females comprising 275,444/484,994 (56.80%) of the samples. Only 345,605/1,515,439 (22.81%) visits involved telemedicine. The total monthly outpatient visits were significantly reduced compared with the expected projection (P<.001) at the beginning of the pandemic, followed by a later monthly increment of 298.7 users. Face-to-face interventions experienced a significant reduction at the beginning of the pandemic (P<.001), gradually recovering in the following months. By contrast, telemedicine use initially increased but subsequently declined toward the end of the pandemic. A similar trend was observed in mental health units. CONCLUSIONS: During the pandemic years, health care utilization in both general and psychiatric services experienced a significant decrease, particularly at the beginning of the pandemic (March 2020). However, no significant trends were observed in either case throughout the pandemic period. Telemedicine consultations witnessed a significant increase overall during this period, particularly among mental health users.
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COVID-19 , Serviços de Saúde Mental , Consulta Remota , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Peru/epidemiologia , Masculino , Feminino , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Serviços de Saúde Mental/estatística & dados numéricos , Adolescente , Adulto Jovem , Consulta Remota/estatística & dados numéricos , Criança , Idoso , Telemedicina/estatística & dados numéricos , Pré-Escolar , Pandemias , Lactente , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
There are several difficulties in evaluating interventions seeking to promote public health policies. In this article, we analyzed the promotion of the use of telemedicine during COVID-19 in Brazil. Using the random promotion method with instrumental variables, we showed that the policy of promoting telemedicine was adequate, with intense use of this type of care. Our results showed that telemedicine works if it is encouraged in the population. We contributed to the discussion of public health policies and their impact on the population's health in times of health crisis, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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COVID-19 , Política de Saúde , Telemedicina , Brasil , COVID-19/epidemiologia , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2 , PandemiasRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic represented a great stimulus for the adoption of telehealth and many initiatives in this field have emerged worldwide. However, despite this massive growth, data addressing the effectiveness of telehealth with respect to clinical outcomes remain scarce. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the adoption of a structured multilevel telehealth service on hospital admissions during the acute illness course and the mortality of adult patients with flu syndrome in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed in two Brazilian cities where a public COVID-19 telehealth service (TeleCOVID-MG) was deployed. TeleCOVID-MG was a structured multilevel telehealth service, including (1) first response and risk stratification through a chatbot software or phone call center, (2) teleconsultations with nurses and medical doctors, and (3) a telemonitoring system. For this analysis, we included data of adult patients registered in the Flu Syndrome notification databases who were diagnosed with flu syndrome between June 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021. The exposed group comprised patients with flu syndrome who used TeleCOVID-MG at least once during the illness course and the control group comprised patients who did not use this telehealth service during the respiratory illness course. Sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, and clinical outcomes data were extracted from the Brazilian official databases for flu syndrome, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (due to any respiratory virus), and mortality. Models for the clinical outcomes were estimated by logistic regression. RESULTS: The final study population comprised 82,182 adult patients with a valid registry in the Flu Syndrome notification system. When compared to patients who did not use the service (n=67,689, 82.4%), patients supported by TeleCOVID-MG (n=14,493, 17.6%) had a lower chance of hospitalization during the acute respiratory illness course, even after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and underlying medical conditions (odds ratio [OR] 0.82, 95% CI 0.71-0.94; P=.005). No difference in mortality was observed between groups (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.86-1.12; P=.83). CONCLUSIONS: A telehealth service applied on a large scale in a limited-resource region to tackle COVID-19 was related to reduced hospitalizations without increasing the mortality rate. Quality health care using inexpensive and readily available telehealth and digital health tools may be delivered in areas with limited resources and should be considered as a potential and valuable health care strategy. The success of a telehealth initiative relies on a partnership between the involved stakeholders to define the roles and responsibilities; set an alignment between the different modalities and levels of health care; and address the usual drawbacks related to the implementation process, such as infrastructure and accessibility issues.
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COVID-19 , Telemedicina , Humanos , COVID-19/mortalidade , Brasil/epidemiologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Telemedicina/estatística & dados numéricos , Feminino , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adulto , Idoso , Hospitalização/estatística & dados numéricos , Pandemias , SARS-CoV-2 , Influenza Humana/mortalidade , Influenza Humana/epidemiologia , Estudos de CoortesRESUMO
Medicine is a discipline based on and nurtured by scientific research and technological development. The use of health services supported by information technology is increasing worldwide, and Latin America is no exception. Factors such as needing more specialists in peripheral cities, large geographic areas, and socio-cultural aspects limit the possibility of receiving timely and quality medical care services. Information Technology (IT) for health purposes, such as e-health, is a cost-effective solution for equitable access to quality healthcare services and optimization of the rising associated costs. As an e-health service, telemedicine facilitates and mediates distance communication between the patient and medical staff. Even though Latin America is at the beginning of the development of telemedicine, it would have a relevant impact, given the geographic and socioeconomic conditions of the population in this part of the world. Drawing on the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) theory, we developed a theoretical model to identify the latent factors influencing the public acceptance of telemedicine and examined their interrelationships. A survey questionnaire was designed and administered to 391 residents in Antofagasta, a mine region of Chile. After that, structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the survey data. The results reveal that the UTAUT2 factors' performance expectancy, social influence, and price value significantly impact the intention to use (R2 = 0.693). Additionally, the model presented a good fit. This study enriches the existing theoretical research on the acceptance of telemedicine services and offers insights into understanding and managing technology in the Chilean health sector.
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Introduction: One of the challenges faced by the Colombian Health System is to improve access to health services for the dispersed and isolated rural population, particularly in the field of dermatology. This article examines the implementation of a teledermatology service using a PC and camera versus smartphone technology. Methods: A total of 542 teledermatology visits were conducted, involving 478 patients, in addition to 64 visits for clinical follow-up for patients as per the dermatologist's recommendation. Out of the 478 patients, 461 met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study. The data collection instrument from the general practitioner or referring provider covered three consultation moments: (1) sending an initial consultation, (2) providing a response to the patient, and (3) sending a follow-up consultation. Seven hundred forty-seven records were completed by the general practitioner for the three consultation moments. Furthermore, 372 consultations were documented by the dermatologist or referring provider for two moments: (1) response to the initial consultation by the dermatologist, and (2) response to the follow-up consultation by the dermatologist. After validating the information reported in the instruments, a descriptive analysis of the data was conducted, utilizing absolute frequencies and percentages for qualitative variables and measures of central tendency (mean, median, standard deviation, and interquartile range) for quantitative variables. The data were analyzed from 747 records of the referring provider instrument related to 461 patients, between 18 and 98 years of age, with a predominantly female representation. Results: The results indicated that for teleconsultations conducted using a mobile device, the average total duration of the teleconsultation was longer on the traditional platform compared with the mobile device (13.03 vs. 8.27 min). Additionally, it was observed that the time taken to store, send, and capture a single image (clinical or dermoscopic) using the mobile device was three times lower than that on the conventional platform (25 vs. 75 s). Similar findings were noted for teleconsultations carried out by the dermatologist, predominantly utilizing a mobile device. The average consultation time was shorter for the mobile device compared with the traditional platform (8.14 vs. 12 min). Conclusions: The cost reduction suggests that the operation of the service is more efficient with smartphone technology in comparison to the use of a PC and camera. Teledermatology with smartphones provides a streamlined, efficient, and technically sound process for obtaining clinical and dermoscopic images.
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Dermatologia , Fotografação , Smartphone , Telemedicina , Humanos , Feminino , Dermatologia/métodos , Dermatologia/economia , Dermatologia/instrumentação , Masculino , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adolescente , Fotografação/instrumentação , Idoso , Adulto Jovem , Colômbia , Telemedicina/economia , Dermatopatias/diagnóstico , Dermatopatias/terapia , Consulta Remota/economia , Consulta Remota/instrumentação , Idoso de 80 Anos ou maisRESUMO
Introducción. La usabilidad en un sistema de teleconsulta afecta directamente la eficiencia y efectividad de la atención médica remota. Objetivo. Evaluar la usabilidad de la teleconsulta durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Población y método. Estudio de corte transversal. Incluimos a los cuidadores de niños/as de 1 mes a 12 años. Evaluamos la usabilidad mediante el Telehealth Usability Questionnaire adaptado en español. Además, evaluamos datos socioeconómicos. Resultados. Tasa de respuesta del 70,2 % (n = 221). La mayoría eran mujeres, edad promedio 33 años, con educación secundaria y cobertura de salud pública. El 87,8 % eligió atención telefónica y el 88,2 % tenía su primera teleconsulta. Alta satisfacción general con puntuaciones menores en facilidad de uso y aprendizaje en videollamadas. Conclusión. La teleconsulta mostró alta usabilidad, independientemente de la modalidad, para cuidadores de niños/as de 1 mes a 12 años.
Introduction. Usability in a telemedicine system directly affects the efficiency and effectiveness of remote health care. Objective. To assess the usability of teleconsultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Population and method. This was a cross-sectional study. The caregivers of children aged 1 month to 12 years were included. Usability was assessed with the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire, adapted to Spanish. Socioeconomic data were also assessed. Results. The response rate was 70.2% (n = 221). Most responders were women whose average age was 33 years, had completed secondary education and had public health insurance. Of them, 87.8% selected telephone health care and 88.2% had their first teleconsultation. The overall satisfaction was high, with lower scores for ease of use and learning how to use video calls. Conclusion. Regardless of modality, the usability of teleconsultations by caregivers of children aged 1 month to 12 years was adequate.
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Humanos , Criança , Adulto , Consulta Remota , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Pandemias , Hospitais PediátricosRESUMO
Introduction. Usability in a telemedicine system directly affects the efficiency and effectiveness of remote health care. Objective. To assess the usability of teleconsultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Population and method. This was a cross-sectional study. The caregivers of children aged 1 month to 12 years were included. Usability was assessed with the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire, adapted to Spanish. Socioeconomic data were also assessed. Results. The response rate was 70.2% (n = 221). Most responders were women whose average age was 33 years, had completed secondary education and had public health insurance. Of them, 87.8% selected telephone health care and 88.2% had their first teleconsultation. The overall satisfaction was high, with lower scores for ease of use and learning how to use video calls. Conclusion. Regardless of modality, the usability of teleconsultations by caregivers of children aged 1 month to 12 years was adequate.
Introducción. La usabilidad en un sistema de teleconsulta afecta directamente la eficiencia y efectividad de la atención médica remota. Objetivo. Evaluar la usabilidad de la teleconsulta durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Población y método. Estudio de corte transversal. Incluimos a los cuidadores de niños/as de 1 mes a 12 años. Evaluamos la usabilidad mediante el Telehealth Usability Questionnaire adaptado en español. Además, evaluamos datos socioeconómicos. Resultados. Tasa de respuesta del 70,2 % (n = 221). La mayoría eran mujeres, edad promedio 33 años, con educación secundaria y cobertura de salud pública. El 87,8 % eligió atención telefónica y el 88,2 % tenía su primera teleconsulta. Alta satisfacción general con puntuaciones menores en facilidad de uso y aprendizaje en videollamadas. Conclusión. La teleconsulta mostró alta usabilidad, independientemente de la modalidad, para cuidadores de niños/as de 1 mes a 12 años.
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COVID-19 , Consulta Remota , Criança , Humanos , Feminino , Adulto , Masculino , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Pandemias , Estudos Transversais , Hospitais PediátricosRESUMO
Introducción: durante la pandemia de COVID-19 hubo un auge sin precedentes de la telemedicina, probablemente por la forzada adopción de tecnología ante las medidas restrictivas. El presente estudio se propuso comparar la interacción y la comunicación entre médicos de cabecera (MC) y pacientes, antes y durante el período de pandemia, en términos de consultas ambulatorias programadas y mensajes del Portal de Salud. Materiales y métodos: corte transversal con muestreo consecutivo de turnos programados y mensajes, ocurridos entre las semanas epidemiológicas (SE) 10 y 23, de 2019 y 2020, respectivamente. Se incluyeron 147 médicos del Servicio de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, y una cápita de 73 427 pacientes afiliados al Plan de Salud del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Se realizó análisis cuantitativo y cualitativo. Resultados: hubo una reducción del 70% de las consultas presenciales (de 76 375 en 2019 a 23 200 en 2020) y un aumento concomitante de teleconsultas (de 255 en la SE13 a 1089 en la SE23). En simultáneo, los mensajes aumentaron sustancialmente (de 28 601 en 2019 a 84 916 en 2020), con un inicio abrupto al comienzo del confinamiento, y una tendencia decreciente a lo largo del tiempo. Antes de la pandemia, el contenido estuvo relacionado con órdenes electrónicas de estudios complementarios, control de resultados, recetas de medicación crónica y/o interconsultas a especialistas, mientras que los dominios más frecuentes durante la pandemia fueron necesidades informativas epidemiológicas, como medidas preventivas para COVID-19, vacuna antineumocócica, vacuna antigripal, casos o sospechas, resultados de hisopados, entre otras. Conclusión: el auge de las tecnologías de la comunicación e información durante la pandemia permitió dar continuidad a los procesos asistenciales en salud pese al distanciamiento físico. Hubo mayor utilización de mensajería por necesidades informativas de los pacientes, y la relación médico-paciente se ha modificado. (AU)
Introduction: during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an unprecedented boom in telemedicine, probably due to the forced adoption of technology in the face of restrictive measures. This study aimed to compare the interaction and communication between general practitioners and patients before and during the pandemic based on scheduled outpatient consultations and Health Portal messages. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study with a consecutive sampling of scheduled appointments and messages, occurring between epidemiological weeks (EW) 10 and 23 of 2019 and 2020, respectively. We included 147 physicians from the Family and Community Medicine Service and a capita of 73427 patients affiliated with the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires health plan. We conducted a quantitative and qualitative analysis. Results: there was a 70% reduction in face-to-face consultations (from 76375 in 2019 to 23200 in 2020) and a concomitant increase in teleconsultations (from 255 in EW13 to 1089 in EW23). Concurrently, messages increased substantially (from 28601 in 2019 to 84916 in 2020), with an abrupt onset at the beginning of confinement and a decreasing trend over time. Before the pandemic, the content involved electronic orders for complementary studies, outcome monitoring, chronic medication prescriptions, or expert consultations. The most frequent domains during the pandemic were epidemiological information needs, such as preventive measures for COVID-19, pneumococcal vaccine, influenza vaccine, cases or suspicions, and swab results, among others. Conclusion: the rise of communication and information technologies during the pandemic allowed the continuity of healthcare processes despite the physical distance. There was increased use of messaging for patients' information needs, and the doctor-patient relationship has changed. (AU)
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Humanos , Atenção Primária à Saúde/métodos , Consulta Remota/estatística & dados numéricos , Assistência Ambulatorial/métodos , Relações Médico-Paciente , Estudos Transversais , Correio Eletrônico , Comunicação em Saúde , Anonimização de Dados , COVID-19RESUMO
Objective The study aimed to compare whether the diagnoses of orthopedic diseases at telemedicine (TM) consultations are the same as those established at face-to-face visits. Method Primary, observational, prospective, analytical study, with subjects from the local municipal network who were referred to the orthopedics outpatient clinic from May to June 2021. Subjects underwent two assessments: a telemedicine (TM) consultation and a face-to-face (FF) visit. Two different physicians attended to the patients and established a diagnosis. The physician performing the FF visit was not aware of the previous diagnoses. We compared the diagnoses obtained at both modalities to assess the degree of similarity. In addition, we determined the time required for consultations and the degree of satisfaction of the physicians. Results We evaluated 43 patients and seven physicians, totaling 44 TM and 43 FF visits. The diagnostic similarity index was 81.4%. TM consultations were shorter (mean time, 4.8 minutes) than FF visits. Physicians were less satisfied with TM in the four criteria evaluated (respective scores of 79.1, 23.3, 46.6, and 37.2). Conclusion TM consultations have a diagnoses agreement higher than 80% compared with FF visits. On the other hand, TM consultations were faster, and physicians were less satisfied with them in comparison with FF visits.
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The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic leveraged telemedicine worldwide mainly due to the need for social distancing, patient safety, and infection prevention. The Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP) was a key reference site in the treatment of COVID-19 severe cases in the country. To continue patient's health care, it became necessary to increase the number of teleconsultations and standardize it institutionally. Herein, we briefly described how the HCFMUSP improved the teleconsultation health care service during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the implementation of important innovations and the throughout standardization process, including patients and professional workflow. We also detailed the methodology used to implement or improve teleconsultation in a medical/multidisciplinary specialty at HCFMUSP. All these efforts made the HCFMUSP reach the goal of converting 15% of all face-to-face consultations into teleconsultations only in 2021. In addition, there were more than 370,000 teleconsultations until the end of 2022. Our experience has shown that having a supporting team, a digital certification process, and the data integration were key factors toward the successful implementation of the teleconsultation services. We believe that progressing toward teleconsultation will improve the population covered by health care services in Brazil, as well as contribute to a reduction of waiting time, and solving costs to health care institutions and patients. We expect this report of our experience in teleconsultation implementation could inspire and guide other health care institutions in the development of telemedicine.
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Abstract Objective The study aimed to compare whether the diagnoses of orthopedic diseases at telemedicine (TM) consultations are the same as those established at face-to-face visits. Method Primary, observational, prospective, analytical study, with subjects from the local municipal network who were referred to the orthopedics outpatient clinic from May to June 2021. Subjects underwent two assessments: a telemedicine (TM) consultation and a face-to-face (FF) visit. Two different physicians attended to the patients and established a diagnosis. The physician performing the FF visit was not aware of the previous diagnoses. We compared the diagnoses obtained at both modalities to assess the degree of similarity. In addition, we determined the time required for consultations and the degree of satisfaction of the physicians. Results We evaluated 43 patients and seven physicians, totaling 44 TM and 43 FF visits. The diagnostic similarity index was 81.4%. TM consultations were shorter (mean time, 4.8 minutes) than FF visits. Physicians were less satisfied with TM in the four criteria evaluated (respective scores of 79.1, 23.3, 46.6, and 37.2). Conclusion TM consultations have a diagnoses agreement higher than 80% compared with FF visits. On the other hand, TM consultations were faster, and physicians were less satisfied with them in comparison with FF visits.
Resumo Objetivo O objetivo do estudo foi comparar se os diagnósticos das doenças ortopédicas realizados por teleconsulta (TC) são os mesmos dos atendimentos presenciais. Método Estudo primário, observacional, prospectivo, analítico, com dados colhidos de maio a junho de 2021, com participantes provenientes da rede municipal local que foram encaminhados ao ambulatório de ortopedia de referência e oferecida participação no estudo com duas avaliações: a primeira por teleatendimento e a segunda de forma presencial. Cada participante foi atendido por dois diferentes profissionais, e cada um emitiu um diagnóstico. Os profissionais do atendimento presencial não conheciam os diagnósticos prévios. Os diagnósticos emitidos foram comparados para avaliar o grau de semelhança. Ainda, foi aferido o tempo para realização dos atendimentos e o grau de satisfação do profissional participante. Resultados Foram avaliados 43 pacientes e 07 profissionais participaram, totalizando 44 TC e 43 atendimentos presenciais. O índice de semelhança do diagnóstico foi de 81,4%. A TC teve um tempo menor para realização (média de 4,8 minutos), que o presencial. A satisfação dos profissionais foi menor na TC nos quatro critérios avaliados, sendo, respectivamente, 79,1, 23,3, 46,6 e 37,2. Conclusão A TC tem concordância no diagnóstico superior a 80% em comparação ao atendimento presencial. Já a realização do teleatendimento teve menor tempo de duração e os profissionais se consideraram menos satisfeitos em relação ao atendimento presencial.
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Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Idoso , Ortopedia/tendências , Consulta Remota , Diagnóstico , Cooperação e Adesão ao TratamentoRESUMO
Introduction: Telemedicine was leveraged for its contribution to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in Brazil and worldwide. Objective: We aim to evaluate the acceptability of incorporating teleconsultation through synchronized videoconference by users and professionals in a service specialized in the prevention and treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted infections, and to identify associated factors. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 410 users and 57 professionals who answered a category-standardized questionnaire. Predictors of acceptability were assessed using logistic regression model. Results: A total of 364 (88.8%) users said they would accept the modality. The factors positively associated with the odds of acceptance were the self-assessment of having favorable conditions to participate in a teleconsultation (aOR 54.8; 95%CI 12.4242.1; p<0.001), the perception of saving money (aOR 5.2; 95%CI 1.914.0; p=0.001), and perceived convenience of the modality (aOR 6.7; 95%CI 2.915.9; p<0.001). Factors associated with reduced odds of acceptance were the fear of not being evaluated well (aOR 0.2; 95%CI 0.10.4; p<0.001), or remaining long without seeing the professional (aOR 0.2; 95%CI 0.10.5; p<0.001). The acceptance of the modality among professionals was 75.4% and the perception of its convenience (aOR 16.8; 95%CI 2.6108.4; p=0.003) and that the institution has appropriated conditions (aOR 7.7; 95%CI 1.540.6; p=0.016) were associated with increased odds of accepting its incorporation in their routine. Conclusion: Governance should invest in infrastructure and support, secure protocols, digital literacy, and training of its users and employees for video teleconsultation. (AU)
Introdução: A telemedicina foi alavancada por sua contribuição para mitigar o impacto da COVID-19 no Brasil e no mundo. Objetivo: Pretendemos avaliar a aceitabilidade da incorporação da teleconsulta por videoconferência síncrona por usuários e profissionais de um serviço especializado na prevenção e tratamento da infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) e outras infecções sexualmente transmissíveis, bem como identificar fatores associados. Métodos: Estudo transversal com 410 usuários e 57 profissionais, que responderam a um questionário padronizado por categoria. Os preditores de aceitabilidade foram avaliados utilizando-se um modelo de regressão logística. Resultados: O total de 364 (88,8%) usuários disseram que aceitariam a modalidade. Os fatores positivamente associados à probabilidade de aceitação foram a autoavaliação quanto a ter condições favoráveis para participar de uma teleconsulta (razão de chances ajustada aOR 54,8; intervalo de confiança de 95% IC95% 12,4242,1; p<0,001), a percepção de poupar dinheiro (aOR 5,2; IC95% 1,914,0; p=0,001) e a percepção de conveniência da modalidade (aOR 6,7; IC95% 2,915,9; p<0,001). As menores probabilidades de aceitação foram o medo de não ser bem avaliado (aOR 0,2; IC95% 0,10,4; p<0,001) e de permanecer muito tempo sem ver o profissional (aOR 0,2; IC95% 0,10,5; p<0,001). A aceitação da modalidade pelos profissionais foi de 75,4% e a percepção de sua conveniência (aOR 16,8; IC95% 2,6108,4; p=0,003) e a de que a instituição possui condições favoráveis (aOR 7,7; IC95% 1,540,6; p=0,016) foram associadas com a maior probabilidade de aceitar a incorporação da modalidade em sua rotina. Conclusão: A governança deve investir em infraestrutura e apoio, protocolos seguros, literacia digital e treinamento de seus usuários e funcionários para a videoconsulta. (AU)
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Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Adolescente , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adulto Jovem , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis/terapia , Infecções por HIV/terapia , Setor Público , Consulta Remota , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Estudos Transversais , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Triage by on-demand telemedicine is a strategy for healthcare surge control in the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to assess the impact of a large-scale COVID-19 telemedicine system on emergency department (ED) visits and all-cause and cardiovascular hospital admissions in Brazil. METHODS: From March 18, 2020-May 18, 2020 we evaluated the database of a cooperative private health insurance, with 1.28 million clients. The COVID-19 telemedicine system consisted of: a) mobile app, which redirects to teleconsultations if indicated; b) telemonitoring system, with regular phone calls to suspected/confirmed COVID-19 cases to monitor progression; c) emergency ambulance system (EAS), with internet phone triage and counselling. ED visits and hospital admissions were recorded, with diagnoses assessed by the Diagnosis Related Groups method. COVID-19 diagnosis and deaths were identified from the patients' registries, and outcomes assessed until June 1st. RESULTS: In 60 days, 24,354 patients accessed one of the telemedicine systems. The most frequently utilized was telemonitoring (16,717, 69%), followed by teleconsultation (13,357, 55%) and EAS (687, 3%). The rates of ED and hospital admissions were: telemonitoring 19.7% (3,296) and 4.7% (782); teleconsultation 17.3% (2,313) and 2.4% (318) and EAS: 55.9% (384) and 56.5% (388) patients. At total 4.1% (1,010) had hospital admissions, 36% (363) with respiratory diseases (44 requiring mechanical ventilation) and 4.4% (44) with cardiovascular diagnoses. Overall, 277 (1.1%) patients had confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, and 160 (0.7%) died, 9 with COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Telemedicine resulted in low rates of ED visits and hospital admissions, suggesting positive impacts on healthcare utilization. Cardiovascular admissions were remarkably rare.
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COVID-19 , Telemedicina , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Pandemias , SARS-CoV-2 , Brasil/epidemiologia , Teste para COVID-19 , Telemedicina/métodos , Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência , Hospitais , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: In March/2020, our geriatric outpatient clinic implemented teleconsultation via telephone due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to understand older patients' perceptions of this experience through their narratives. METHODS: A qualitative study with Thematic Oral History and thematic analysis. We conducted open-ended interviews in which older patients narrated their perceptions of this experience. RESULTS: Twelve patients were interviewed from December/2021 to January/2022, and 2 themes emerged: older patients' experience of teleconsultation and possibilities and challenges of telemedicine. Some patients did not identify the call as a teleconsultation. Regarding possibilities, patients reported satisfaction and convenience in specific circumstances. As for challenges, patients reported concerns about the effectiveness of communication and need for physical examination. CONCLUSION: Teleconsultation is well accepted, as long as situations that require face-to-face interactions are considered. Considering person-centered medicine, listening to the narratives of older people contributes to a better structuring of telemedicine services in geriatrics
OBJETIVOS: Em março/2020, nosso ambulatório de geriatria iniciou a teleconsulta por telefone em virtude da pandemia de COVID-19. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi conhecer a percepção dessa experiência por esses pacientes, por meio de suas narrativas. METODOLOGIA: Pesquisa qualitativa com História Oral Temática e análise temática. Realizadas entrevistas abertas, nas quais os idosos narraram suas percepções sobre essa experiência. RESULTADOS: Doze pacientes foram entrevistados de dezembro/2021 a janeiro/2022 e dois temas emergiram: vivência ante a teleconsulta e possibilidades e desafios da telemedicina. Alguns não identificaram que se tratava de uma teleconsulta. Nas possibilidades, afirmaram satisfação e conveniência em circunstâncias específicas. Nos desafios, apontaram preocupações com eficácia de comunicação e com necessidade de exame físico. CONCLUSÃO: Existe uma boa recepção da teleconsulta, desde que respeitadas situações que demandem atendimento presencial. Considerando uma medicina centrada na pessoa, a escuta das narrativas dos idosos contribui para melhor estruturação de serviços de telemedicina em geriatria
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Percepção , Telefone , Consulta Remota/métodos , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Entrevistas como Assunto , Pesquisa QualitativaRESUMO
Abstract Objective: Evaluate the impact of teleconsultation on glycemic control and prevention of acute complications related to diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents treated in a reference hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Method: Descriptive study of data from pediatric diabetic patients who received teleconsultation between April and September 2020. Results: During this period, 143 diabetic patients were evaluated, with a median of 3.4 teleconsultations per patient in the studied period, requiring adjustment of insulin doses in 84.6% of cases. The hospital admission rate was 8,4% due to diabetic decompensation. The metabolic control (HbA1c) became worse in 46% of the sample and improved in 37%. Conclusion: The teleconsultation promoted health care for patients with diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 pandemic but was not able to guarantee adequate glycemic control.
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Abstract Objective To develop a protocol for hybrid low-risk prenatal care adapted to Brazilian guidelines, merging reduced face-to-face consultations and remote monitoring. Methods The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched on telemedicine and antenatal care perspectives and adaptation of the low-risk prenatal care protocols recommended by the Ministry of Health and by the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Associations. Results Five relevant articles and three manuals were included in the review, for presented criteria to develop this clinical guideline. We identified, in these studies, that the schedule of consultations is unevenly distributed among the gestational trimesters, and ranges from 7 to 14 appointments. In general, the authors propose one to two appointments in the first trimester, two to three appointments in the second trimester, and two to six appointments in the third trimester. Only three studies included puerperal evaluations. The routine exams recommended show minimal variations among authors. To date, there are no validated Brazilian protocols for prenatal care by telemedicine. The included studies showed that pregnant women were satisfied with this form of care, and the outcomes of interest, except for hypertensive diseases, were similar between the groups exposed to traditional and hybrid prenatal care. Conclusion The presented guideline comprises the Ministry of Health recommendations for low-risk prenatal care and reduces exposure to the hospital environment and care costs. A randomized clinical trial, to be developed by this group, will provide real-world data on safety, effectiveness, satisfaction, and costs.
Resumo Objetivo Desenvolver uma diretriz clínica híbrida para atendimento pré-natal de baixo risco, mesclando consultas presenciais e remotas por telemedicina, adapta às recomendações brasileiras. Métodos Revisão sistemática da literatura nas bases de dados PubMed, Embase e Cochrane e adaptação dos protocolos de atenção ao pré-natal de baixo risco preconizados pelo Ministério da Saúde e pela Federação Brasileira das Associações de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. Resultados Cinco artigos relevantes e três manuais foram incluídos na revisão por preencherem critérios para o desenvolvimento desta diretriz clínica. Nos estudos incluídos, identificou-se que o cronograma de consultas se distribui de forma desigual entre os trimestres gestacionais, variando entre 07 e 14 encontros. De forma geral, os autores propõem uma a duas consultas no primeiro trimestre, duas a três consultas no segundo trimestre e duas a seis consultas no terceiro trimestre. Somente três estudos incluíram avaliações puerperais. A rotina de exames preconizada apresenta mínimas variações entre os autores. Até o momento, não existem protocolos brasileiros validados para atendimento pré-natal por telemedicina. Os estudos incluídos evidenciaram a satisfação das gestantes em relação a esta forma de atendimento, e os desfechos de interesse, excetuando doenças hipertensivas, foi semelhante entre os grupos expostos ao pré-natal tradicional e ao pré-natal híbrido. Conclusão A diretriz apresentada contempla as recomendações do Ministério da Saúde para atendimento pré-natal de gestantes de baixo risco, reduz a exposição ao ambiente hospitalar e os custos de atendimento. Seu emprego em um ensaio clínico randomizado, a ser desenvolvido por este grupo, proporcionará dados de mundo real, relativos à segurança, efetividade, satisfação e custos.
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Humanos , Feminino , Gravidez , Cuidado Pré-Natal , Telemedicina , Consulta Remota , Manuais e Guias para a Gestão da PesquisaRESUMO
Introducción: La pandemia por COVID-19 afectó la continuidad de las consultas médicas presenciales, así se implementaron estrategias, como las teleconsultas, para cerrar brechas de atención. El objetivo del estudio fue describir el impacto de la pandemia en la consulta endocrinológica en el Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal Sologuren (Callao, Perú). Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de análisis de datos secundarios obtenidos del Sistema de Salud Inteligente del Seguro Social de Perú. Se analizó datos de las consultas ambulatorias entre mayo 2019 y noviembre 2021. Resultados: Debido a la pandemia, la proporción de consultas presenciales disminuyó de 100% (periodo prepandemia) a 29,4% (durante la pandemia), mientras que las teleconsultas predominaron tras su implementación. Mas del 68% de pacientes fueron mujeres, en las consultas presenciales la mediana de edad antes y durante la pandemia fue 59 y 56 años, respectivamente, mientras que en teleconsultas fue 58 años. La diabetes mellitus fue el principal motivo de consulta (entre 32,6% a 34,4% del total de consultas), seguido del hipotiroidismo y la enfermedad nodular tiroidea. Durante la pandemia, la proporción de consultas por hipotiroidismo fue mayor en teleconsultas vs consulta presencial (25,3% vs 18%). Conclusiones: Durante la pandemia, las teleconsultas predominaron sobre la consulta presencial. No hubo diferencias relevantes en la mediana de edad o sexo predominantes entre los pacientes antes o durante la pandemia. La diabetes mellitus fue el principal motivo de consulta en general y durante la pandemia las consultas por hipotiroidismo fueron mayor en teleconsulta.
ABSTRACS Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected the continuity of face-to-face medical consultations, so strategies, such as teleconsultations, were implemented to close the gaps in care. The objective of this study was to describe the impact of the pandemic in the traditional endocrinology consultation at Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal Sologuren (Callao, Peru). Materials and methods: We carried out a descriptive study of analysis of secondary data, that was obtained from the Sistema de Salud Inteligente of the Social Security of Peru. Data from outpatient consultations between May 2019 and November 2021 were analyzed. Results: Due to the pandemic, the proportion of face-to-face consultations decreased from 100% (pre-pandemic period) to 29,4% (during the pandemic), while teleconsultations predominated after its implementation. More than 68% of patients were women, in face-to-face consultations the median age before and during the pandemic was 59 and 56 years, respectively, while in teleconsultations it was 58 years. Diabetes mellitus was the main reason for consultation (between 32,6% and 34,4% of all consultations), followed by hypothyroidism and nodular thyroid disease. During the pandemic, the proportion of consultations for hypothyroidism was higher in teleconsultations vs. face-to-face consultations (25,3% vs. 18%). Conclusions: During the pandemic, teleconsultations predominated over face-to-face consultation. There were no relevant differences in median age or predominant gender among patients before or during the pandemic. Diabetes mellitus was the main reason for consultation in general and during the pandemic consultations for hypothyroidism were higher in teleconsultation.
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Contexto: la pandemia por COVID-19 generó la reestructuración de los servicios de salud en el mundo. La teleconsulta ofrece el acceso a la atención en salud a distancia como estrategia de mitigación a la propagación del virus y como una forma flexible de telemedicina. Objetivo: describir los resultados de atención en salud por modalidad de teleconsulta en pacientes trasplantados durante el inicio de la pandemia por COVID-19. Metodología: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal que describe la experiencia del uso de la teleconsulta en el inicio de la pandemia por COVID-19 en un centro de trasplante de órganos en Colombia. La información fue obtenida mediante la recolección directa de la atención en el mes de abril de 2020 y a través del envío de un cuestionario electrónico, estructurado para los pacientes atendidos por teleconsulta. Resultados: un total de 1139 pacientes con trasplante renal fueron valorados en la modalidad de teleconsulta. Alrededor del 50 % de los pacientes atendidos vivían fuera de áreas metropolitanas (n = 564) y un total de 292 (de 800 contactados) respondieron la encuesta enviada con una media de edad de 48 años. Los pacientes presentaron altos porcentajes de satisfacción con el modelo de teleconsulta (n = 278, lo que equivale al 94 %). Se presentaron dos casos sospechosos de COVID-19, los cuales fueron negativos al realizar la prueba de PCR-RT. Conclusiones: la teleconsulta es una herramienta útil en la mitigación de la emergencia sanitaria, con un alto potencial que genera mayor acceso y oportunidad de atención en salud, presentando altos índices de aceptación.
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the restructuring of health services around the world. Teleconsultation offers access to remote health care and a mitigation strategy. Purpose: Describe the results of a teleconsultation program in a transplant center at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: Descriptive cross-sectional study describing the experience of the use of teleconsultation during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic at an organ transplant center in Colombia. The information was obtained by directly collecting the total number of patients treated during April 2020 and by sending a structured electronic questionnaire to the patients involved in the care. Results: A total of 1139 renal transplant patients were assessed by teleconsultation. The geographical distribution of patients in metropolitan areas and outside the metropolitan area were similar (n=575 and n=564, respectively). Of the total, 292 patients responded to the survey sent with an average age of 48 years. The patients had high satisfaction with the teleconsultation model (n=278, 94%). There were 2 suspected cases of COVID-19, which were negative when performing the PCR-RT test. Conclusions: Teleconsultation is a useful tool in the mitigation of the health emergency, with a high potential, which generates greater access and health care opportunity, presenting high acceptance rates.
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OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the impact of teleconsultation on glycemic control and prevention of acute complications related to diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents treated in a reference hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. METHOD: Descriptive study of data from pediatric diabetic patients who received teleconsultation between April and September 2020. RESULTS: During this period, 143 diabetic patients were evaluated, with a median of 3.4 teleconsultations per patient in the studied period, requiring adjustment of insulin doses in 84.6% of cases. The hospital admission rate was 8,4% due to diabetic decompensation. The metabolic control (HbA1c) became worse in 46% of the sample and improved in 37%. CONCLUSION: The teleconsultation promoted health care for patients with diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 pandemic but was not able to guarantee adequate glycemic control.