University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, Illinois 61602, USA.
Telemed J E Health. 2011 Oct;17(8):609-14. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2011.0025. Epub 2011 Aug 22.
Obstructive sleep apnea is common, but access to diagnosis remains limited. Telemedicine may allow greater access to care; however, its effect on patient satisfaction and treatment adherence is unknown. This study compares patient satisfaction and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) adherence of patients seen by videoconference with those seen in person.
New patients seen via video or in person at a sleep center completed a survey, with three questions pertaining to satisfaction with the provider. Questions were scored 1-5; the sum was the patient satisfaction score. CPAP adherence was retrospectively analyzed in patients who met the physician via video or in person. Percentage of nights CPAP was used for ≥4 h and average minutes of CPAP use per night over 2 consecutive weeks were compared.
A Mann-Whitney test compared patient satisfaction of the 90 subjects (of whom, 56 met physician in person and 34 via video). Mean scores (in person, 14.82; video, 14.91; p=0.851) did not differ between groups. Mann-Whitney tests compared CPAP adherence in the 172 subjects (of whom, 111 met physician in person and 61 via video). Mean percentage of nights CPAP was used ≥4 h (in person, 71%; video, 65%; p=0.198) and the average minutes per night of CPAP use (in person, 340.55; video, 305.31; p=0.153) did not differ between groups.
The findings indicate that patients were equally satisfied with their provider and adherent to CPAP treatment whether they were seen in person or via video. Videoconferencing may improve access to patient care without reducing patient satisfaction or treatment adherence.
阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停较为常见，但诊断的可及性仍然有限。远程医疗可能会增加获得医疗服务的机会；然而，其对患者满意度和治疗依从性的影响尚不清楚。本研究比较了通过视频或面对面就诊的患者的满意度和持续气道正压通气（CPAP）的依从性。
在睡眠中心通过视频或面对面就诊的新患者完成了一项调查，其中有三个与对提供者的满意度相关的问题。问题的评分范围为 1-5 分；总分即为患者满意度得分。通过视频或面对面就诊的患者回顾性分析 CPAP 的依从性。比较了满足医生要求的患者在 2 周内至少 4 小时 CPAP 使用率和每晚平均 CPAP 使用时间的百分比。
对 90 名患者（其中 56 名与医生面对面就诊，34 名通过视频就诊）进行了曼-惠特尼检验比较患者满意度。两组的平均得分（面对面就诊，14.82；视频就诊，14.91；p=0.851）没有差异。对 172 名患者（其中 111 名与医生面对面就诊，61 名通过视频就诊）进行了曼-惠特尼检验比较 CPAP 依从性。平均每晚 CPAP 使用≥4 小时的比例（面对面就诊，71%；视频就诊，65%；p=0.198）和每晚平均 CPAP 使用时间（面对面就诊，340.55；视频就诊，305.31；p=0.153）在两组之间没有差异。
研究结果表明，无论患者是通过视频还是面对面就诊，他们对提供者的满意度和 CPAP 治疗的依从性都相同。远程医疗可能会在不降低患者满意度或治疗依从性的情况下改善患者护理的可及性。
