Child Development Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Health Expect. 2022 Oct;25(5):2557-2569. doi: 10.1111/hex.13582. Epub 2022 Aug 17.
The application of telehealth in the paediatric setting is growing, and yet, limited research has focused on using telehealth in developmental diagnostic assessment and the consumers' perceptions of their telehealth experience. This study explored parents'/carers' and staff experiences of using telehealth as part of the developmental diagnostic assessment.
Parents/carers who attended an assessment between June 2020 and July 2021 that incorporated a telehealth component within a hybrid service delivery model were invited to provide feedback about their experience of telehealth appointments at a multidisciplinary developmental assessment service. All parents were invited to complete an online survey, with a sample of families being offered a telephone interview. Staff members were invited to a focus group to explore their experiences of delivering services via telehealth. Data obtained were analysed descriptively and thematically using a mixed method of analysis. Codes were categorized, enabling facilitators and barriers to be explored.
The use of telehealth in the diagnostic assessment of complex developmental disorders received high levels of acceptance from parents/carers and staff, despite having limitations such as technical issues, difficulties building rapport between families/clinicians and limited direct observations of the child. Telehealth services are perceived to reduce costs and increase flexibility, including increased ability to accommodate family needs.
Results demonstrated that telehealth is a highly acceptable mode of service in a developmental assessment service. The current study informs the development of a hybrid service delivery model by enhancing facilitators and reducing barriers commonly reported by consumers and provides direction for future research.
Parents or carers of children who attended a tertiary paediatric assessment unit for a diagnostic developmental assessment completed the online survey and were interviewed.
远程医疗在儿科领域的应用正在不断发展，但很少有研究关注远程医疗在发育性诊断评估中的应用以及消费者对远程医疗体验的看法。本研究探讨了家长/照顾者和工作人员在使用远程医疗作为发育性诊断评估的一部分方面的体验。
在 2020 年 6 月至 2021 年 7 月期间，参加了结合混合服务交付模式的远程医疗部分的评估的家长/照顾者被邀请就他们在多学科发育评估服务中的远程医疗预约体验提供反馈。所有家长都被邀请完成在线调查，部分家庭还可以选择进行电话访谈。工作人员被邀请参加焦点小组，以探讨他们通过远程医疗提供服务的经验。使用混合方法分析收集的数据，进行描述性和主题分析。对代码进行分类，以探索促进因素和障碍。
尽管存在技术问题、家庭/临床医生之间建立联系的困难以及对儿童的直接观察有限等限制，但远程医疗在复杂发育障碍的诊断评估中的应用得到了家长/照顾者和工作人员的高度认可。远程医疗服务被认为可以降低成本并提高灵活性，包括增加满足家庭需求的能力。
研究结果表明，远程医疗是发育评估服务中一种高度可接受的服务模式。本研究通过增强消费者普遍报告的促进因素和减少障碍，为混合服务交付模式的发展提供了信息，并为未来的研究提供了方向。
参加三级儿科评估单位进行诊断性发育评估的儿童的家长或照顾者完成了在线调查并接受了采访。
