Health Services Research Unit, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia; and Health Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.
Centre for Health Policy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.
Aust Health Rev. 2022 Apr;46(2):197-203. doi: 10.1071/AH21036.
Objective This study determined caregivers' evaluations of telehealth consultations for their child, preference over in-person consultations and potential cost savings by child condition, family socioeconomic status and location. Methods A survey was conducted of 2436 caregivers attending a telehealth consultation with their child for a broad group of conditions between 3 June and 25 August 2020 at a tertiary paediatric hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Results Most caregivers found telehealth consultations convenient, acceptable, safe and private, and capable of answering their questions and concerns. However, caregivers who spoke a language other than English and patients attending for behavioural and mental health, developmental or other (e.g. allied health) concerns were more likely to prefer in-person consultations over telehealth. Mean (±s.d.) reported cost savings on caregiver time were A$144.98 ± 99.04 per family per consultation, whereas mean (±s.d.) transport cost savings were A$84.90 ± 100.74 per family per consultation. Cost savings were greatest for families living in low and middle socioeconomic areas and regional or rural areas. Conclusions Paediatric telehealth video consultations were largely viewed favourably by caregivers, except for those attending for behavioural and mental health or developmental concerns. What is known about the topic? Adult consumers of telehealth consultations view them as useful, convenient and cost saving, but less is known about caregivers' evaluations of telehealth consultations and potential cost savings for paediatric patients, and whether these differ by family location, socioeconomic status or child condition. What does this paper add? This is the first Australian paper to report on caregivers' evaluations across a range of paediatric conditions and locations. Most caregivers found telehealth consultations convenient, safe, acceptable, able to answer their questions and concerns about their child's health and cost saving. What are the implications for practitioners? Caregivers of children with behavioural, mental health or developmental problems were less likely to prefer telehealth over in-person consultations, so practitioners should consider providing such consultations in person.
目的 本研究旨在评估照料者对儿童远程医疗咨询的评价、对远程医疗咨询的偏好，以及按儿童病情、家庭社会经济地位和所在地等条件计算的潜在节省成本。
方法 2020 年 6 月 3 日至 8 月 25 日期间，澳大利亚墨尔本一家三级儿科医院对 2436 名通过远程医疗为子女就诊的照料者进行了一项调查，这些儿童的就诊范围广泛，涉及多种疾病。
结果 大多数照料者认为远程医疗咨询方便、可接受、安全且私密，能够回答他们的问题和顾虑。然而，讲英语以外语言的照料者和因行为与心理健康、发育或其他问题（如：辅助医疗）就诊的患者更倾向于选择亲自就诊而非远程医疗。报告的每个家庭每次咨询节省的照护者时间的平均（±标准差）成本为 144.98 澳元±99.04 澳元，而每次咨询节省的交通费用平均（±标准差）为 84.90 澳元±100.74 澳元。来自中低收入地区和地区/农村地区的家庭节省成本最大。
结论 儿科远程医疗视频咨询在很大程度上受到照料者的好评，但行为与心理健康或发育问题就诊的照料者除外。
关于这个主题已知的内容？远程医疗咨询的成年消费者认为其有用、方便且节省成本，但对于儿科患者的远程医疗咨询评估和潜在成本节省，以及这些评估和节省是否因家庭所在地、社会经济地位或儿童病情而异，了解较少。
本文增加了哪些内容？这是澳大利亚首份报告关于各种儿科疾病和地点的照料者评估的论文。大多数照料者认为远程医疗咨询方便、安全、可接受，能够回答他们对孩子健康的问题和顾虑，并节省成本。
对从业者的影响是什么？行为、心理或发育问题儿童的照料者不太可能选择远程医疗而不是亲自就诊，因此从业者应考虑亲自提供此类咨询。
