Improvement in asthma symptoms and quality of life in pediatric patients through specialty care delivered via telemedicine

Telemedicine with special focus on allergic diseases and asthma-Status 2022: An EAACI position paper

Efficacious, effective and efficient communication between healthcare professionals (HCP) and patients is essential to achieve a successful therapeutic alliance. Telemedicine (TM) has been used for decades but during the COVID-19 pandemic its use has become widespread. This position paper aims to describe the terminology and most important forms of TM among HCP and patients and review the existing studies on the uses of TM for asthma and allergy. Besides, the advantages and risks of TM are discussed, concluding that TM application reduces costs and time for both, HCP and patients, but cannot completely replace face-to-face visits for physical examinations and certain tests that are critical in asthma and allergy. From an ethical point of view, it is important to identify those involved in the TM process, ensure confidentiality and use communication channels that fully guarantee the security of the information. Unmet needs and directions for the future regarding implementation, data protection, privacy regulations, methodology and efficacy are described.

Children with uncontrolled asthma from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods: Needs assessment and the development of a school-based telehealth and electronic inhaler monitoring system

BACKGROUND

Children from economically disadvantaged communities often encounter healthcare access barriers, increasing risk for poorly controlled asthma and subsequent healthcare utilization. This highlights the need to identify novel intervention strategies for these families.

OBJECTIVE

To better understand the needs and treatment preferences for asthma management in children from economically disadvantaged communities and to develop a novel asthma management intervention based on an initial needs assessment and stakeholder feedback.

METHODS

Semistructured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 19 children (10-17 years old) with uncontrolled asthma and their caregivers, 14 school nurses, 8 primary care physicians, and three school resource coordinators from economically disadvantaged communities. Interviews and focus groups were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim and then analyzed thematically to inform intervention development. Using stakeholder input, an intervention was developed for children with uncontrolled asthma and presented to participants for feedback to fully develop a novel intervention.

RESULTS

The needs assessment resulted in five themes: (1) barriers to quality asthma care, (2) poor communication across care providers, (3) problems identifying and managing symptoms and triggers among families, (4) difficulties with adherence, and (5) stigma. A proposed video-based telehealth intervention was proposed to stakeholders who provided favorable and informative feedback for the final development of the intervention for children with uncontrolled asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

Stakeholder input and feedback provided information critical to the development of a multicomponent (medical and behavioral) intervention in a school setting that uses technology to facilitate care, collaboration, and communication among key stakeholders to improve asthma management for children from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Racial Inequities in Asthma Care

Racial inequities in asthma care are evolving as a recognized factor in long-standing inequities in asthma outcomes (e.g., hospitalization and mortality). Little research has been conducted regarding the presence or absence of racial inequities among patients seen in asthma specialist settings, this is an important area of future research given that asthma specialist care is recommended for patients experiencing the poor asthma outcomes disproportionately experienced by Black and Hispanic patients. This study provides a systematic review of racial asthma care inequities in asthma epidemiology, clinical assessment, medication prescription, and asthma specialist referral practices.

Telehealth and Allergy Services in Rural and Regional Locations That Lack Specialty Services

Secondary to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, telehealth quickly peaked as the dominant health care modality and its use still remains high. Although allergists and health care systems adapted quickly to adopt telehealth, its increased use has both highlighted its benefits for patients and allergists and demonstrated known concerns with delivering allergy specialty care to rural and regional patient populations. With increased concentration of both patients and allergists in urban areas, the ability to provide allergy specialty care to the rural and remote population continues to remain a challenge despite the advantages leveraged through telehealth. Herein, we review aspects specific to the rural patient population, tele-allergy outcomes with these patient cohorts, and efforts, both past and present, taken at different levels within the allergy community to promote our specialty through specific telehealth modalities to address and engage the rural and regional patient.

Lung Function Tests, Quality of Life and Telemedicine: Three Windows on the Multifaceted World of Asthma in Adolescents

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation and recognized as the most prevalent chronic illness among children. Despite this, the knowledge as to how asthma affects adolescents is still scarce. One of the main management problems of asthmatic adolescents is the poor adherence to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. The assessment of respiratory function and the impact on quality of life are still two crucial challenges in the management of asthmatic adolescents. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted physicians to explore complementary management strategies including telemedicine technologies. This review aims to provide an update on the contribution of respiratory functional tests, how asthma affects quality of life of adolescents and, finally, how telemedicine contributes to the management of adolescent asthmatics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experience of Parents of Children with Genetically Determined Leukoencephalopathies Regarding the Adapted Health Care Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Parents of children with genetically determined leukoencephalopathies play a major role in their children's health care. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many health care services were suspended, delayed or delivered remotely with telemedicine. We sought to explore the experience of parents of children with genetically determined leukoencephalopathies during the pandemic given the adapted health care services. We conducted semistructured interviews with 13 parents of 13 affected children. Three main themes were identified using thematic analysis: perceived impact of COVID-19 on health care services, benefits and challenges of telemedicine, and expectations of health care after the pandemic. Parents perceived a loss/delay in health care services while having a positive response to telemedicine. Parents wished telemedicine would remain in their care after the pandemic. This is the first study assessing the impact of COVID-19 on health care services in this population. Our results suggest that parents experience a higher level of stress owing to the shortage of services and the children's vulnerability.

Using Telemedicine to Care for the Asthma Patient

Purpose of Review

To review the data supporting the use of telemedicine (TM) and to provide practical guidance for practitioners to optimize the care of their asthmatic patients.

Recent Findings

Previous to the pandemic, TM was little used in various aspects of asthma care. Since the pandemic, TM has been increasingly used in new ways to care for asthma patients at various locations. In addition to direct-to-consumer visits for asthma care, other forms of telehealth visits have been increasing such as facilitated visits, asynchronous, remote patient monitoring, e-consults, and mHealth. Moreover, patient and provider satisfaction with the use of TM has been increasing and is comparable at times with face-to-face visits. In this review, best practices for starting a telemedicine asthma service with patients at home, distant clinic sites, and various other locations, including school-based asthma programs, are reviewed.

Summary

TM is a valuable adjunct to face-to-face visits for asthma care. Following the recommended best practices can strengthen the implementation of a telemedicine asthma program (TMAP) into clinical practice. Providers must be vigilant in keeping current with the various nuances required for asthma telemedicine care in preparation for the post-pandemic environment.

Implementation of Telehealth Services in Rural Schools: A Qualitative Assessment

BACKGROUND

In rural areas with health professional workforce shortages, telehealth offers an opportunity to address service gaps and meet the health needs of students. Few studies have examined telehealth implementation in rural schools. This study explores facilitators and barriers to the implementation of telehealth programs in rural schools and identifies strategies for successful implementation to inform future school-based telehealth initiatives.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 50 key informants involved in the implementation of telehealth programs funded through the School-Based Telehealth Network Grant Program. Researchers completed a thematic analysis of interview transcripts.

RESULTS

The most commonly cited barriers were technology, reimbursement for services, and facilitating acceptance of the telehealth among school staff, clinicians, parents, and students. Key informants identified strategies for facilitating program implementation, including technology training and support, marketing efforts, and integration into existing school processes.

CONCLUSIONS

School-based telehealth can augment clinical capacity in areas with clinician shortages. Entities interested in such an approach to care must engage with their school community to ensure successful implementation. For rural, school-based telehealth to gain greater adoption and be sustained, these services must be reimbursable by Medicaid and private insurers.

Management of severe asthma during the first lockdown phase of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: tips for facing the second wave

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has contributed to implement telemedicine, allowing clinicians to follow the patient remotely, therefore minimizing the risk of any exposure to positive COVID-19 patients. We summarize the approaches adopted to treat and monitor severe asthmatic patients during the lockdown phase of the pandemic. Our experience supports the strategy that every effort should be made to minimize patient contact with the health-care system, planning a pathway that allows patients to receive appropriate medical care and continue the biological therapies, thus preventing the loss of disease control and acute severe exacerbations.

Clinical and economic impact of telemedicine in the management of pediatric asthma in Jordan: a pharmacist-led intervention

OBJECTIVE

Pediatric asthma is a major public health concern, considering its chronic nature and negative effects on quality of life of affected children. Telemedicine is efficacious in providing pharmaceutical care for patients with several chronic diseases, including asthma. This approach allows habitants of sparsely populated rural Jordanian areas to remotely access high-quality healthcare services. Pharmacist-provided asthma counseling has proven benefits in improving patient adherence rates and their understanding. This study evaluated clinical and economic impacts of pharmacist-led, interactive synchronous telemedicine counseling of pediatric asthma patients in Jordan.

METHODS

A randomized, controlled, 12-week pre-post interventional study was conducted. Ninety patients with uncontrolled asthma aged 5-11 years were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups: intervention or control. Inhaler use was checked for both groups at baseline, along with assessment of clinical and economic measures. Counseling on proper inhaler use was provided by pharmacists. Telemedicine sessions for the intervention group were scheduled every 4 weeks, whereas the control group received standard care. Pertinent measures reflecting the level of disease control and relapse were tracked monthly.

RESULTS

The intervention group showed more significant improvement in clinical and economic outcomes than the control group (the Childhood Asthma Control Test mean scores [P = 0.0134], decreased parental loss of wages [P = 0.0015], and decreased economic burden [P < 0.001]). Additionally, overall improvement in quality of life and satisfaction with the telemedicine sessions were reported.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacist-led telemedicine counseling could be a promising approach to deliver distant pharmaceutical care for patients with childhood asthma.

School nurse perception of asthma care in school-based telehealth

OBJECTIVE

School-based telehealth (SBTH) offers an opportunity to overcome traditional barriers to providing comprehensive asthma care for children. Guided by an implementation science framework considering factors internal and external to the school setting, we characterized barriers and facilitators to asthma care within an existing SBTH program available in over 50 under-resourced South Carolina schools.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study assessed barriers and facilitators to SBTH asthma care delivery using web-based surveys of school nurses, specifically addressing school implementation of telehealth methods. Surveys evaluated practices and nurse and school-specific factors related to telehealth implementation including perceived barriers, organizational readiness and self-efficacy. Utilizers were schools who completed 1-10 average visits per month while non-utilizers completed less than 1 average visit per month. Descriptive statistics were performed to characterize perceptions in utilizers versus non-utilizers.

RESULTS

Of 53 surveys distributed, 36 were completed (68% response rate). Commonly cited barriers included inadequate time due to competing tasks in both utilizers (65%) and non-utilizers (74%) as well as lack of caregiver involvement in care planning (94% of utilizers and 84% of non-utilizers). Of those utilizing specific, relevant telehealth services, schools scored high in perceptions of organizational readiness (n = 24, mean: 24.5/30), self-efficacy (n = 26, mean: 3.6/5) and comfort with identifying students eligible for SBTH (n = 26, mean: 3.5/5).

CONCLUSIONS

We identified inadequate nurse time and challenges engaging caregivers as key barriers to implementation of a school-based telehealth asthma program providing care to an under-resourced population. Addressing these barriers when expanding telehealth services may promote utilization of telehealth.

Paediatric and adolescent asthma: A narrative review of telemedicine and emerging technologies for the post-COVID-19 era

Children and young people with asthma need regular monitoring to maintain good asthma control, prevent asthma attacks and manage comorbidities. The COVID‐19 pandemic has resulted in healthcare professionals making fundamental changes to the way healthcare is delivered and for patients and families adapting to these changes. Comprehensive remotely delivered, technology‐based healthcare, closer to the patients home (reducing hospital footfall and possibly reducing carbon footprint) is likely to be one of the important collateral effects of the pandemic. Telemedicine is anticipated to impact everyone involved in healthcare ‐ providers and patients alike. It is going to bring changes to organization, work areas and work culture in healthcare. Healthcare providers, policymakers and those accessing healthcare services will experience the impact of technology‐based healthcare delivery. Telemedicine can play an exciting role in the management of childhood asthma by delivering high‐quality care closer to the child's home. However, unlike adults, children still need to be accompanied by their carers for virtual care. Policymakers will need to take into account potential additional costs as well as the legal, ethical and cultural implications of large scale use of telemedicine. In this narrative review, we review evidence regarding the role of telemedicine and related emerging technologies in paediatric and adolescent asthma. Although there are gaps in the current knowledge, there is evidence demonstrating the important role of telemedicine in management of childhood and adolescent asthma. However, there is an urgent need for healthcare researchers and policymakers to focus on improving the technologies and address the disparities in accessing novel technology‐based management strategies to improve asthma care.

New Concepts and Technological Resources in Patient Education and Asthma Self-Management

Asthma is a chronic disease that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In general, the use of technology resources or electronic health (e-health) has been shown to have beneficial effects on patients with asthma. E-health can impact a broad section of patients and can be cost-effective and associated with high patient satisfaction. E-health may enable remote delivery of care, as well as timely access to health care, which are some of the common challenges faced by patients with asthma. Web-based asthma self-management systems have been found to improve quality of life, self-reported asthma symptoms, lung function, reduction in asthma symptoms/exacerbations, and self-reported adherence for adults. Social media is commonly being used as a platform to disseminate information on asthma to increase public awareness. It can facilitate asthma self-management in a patient friendly manner and has shown to improve asthma control test scores as well as self-esteem. Text massages reminders can increase awareness regarding asthma treatment and control, thus potentially can improve adherence to medications and asthma outcome. Mobile health applications can support asthma self-management, improve a patient's quality of life, promote medication adherence, and potentially reduce the overall costs for asthma care. Inhaler trackers have shown to be beneficial to asthma outcome in various populations by improving adherence to asthma medications. Barriers such as physician financial reimbursement as well as licensing for rendering tele-healthcare services are important concerns. Other limitations of using technology resources in health care are related to liability, professionalism, and ethical issues such as breach of patient confidentiality and privacy. Additionally, there may be less face-to-face interaction and care of the patient when e-health is used.

Telemedicine and adherence monitoring in children with asthma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Telemedicine, defined as synchronous video visits between a provider and a child with asthma, often takes place in the school setting. This review examines the new electronic sensors for adherence monitoring and studies that used telemedicine in the school setting to improve asthma outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

School-based telemedicine provides an important service to families of school-aged children who have difficulty due to time and distance in planning and keeping in-person appointments with primary or specialty providers. Significant improvements in objective measures of asthma control are inconsistently observed although caregiver and parent quality of life and child self-management behaviors are improved and satisfaction is high. Assessment and outcomes related to adherence are mentioned in studies but results are not often reported. However, it appears that adherence interventions are beneficial while maintained but the effects are not sustained upon intervention discontinuation.

SUMMARY

The school setting provides a convenient and suitable environment to conduct telemedicine visits between school-aged children and their primary care or specialty provider. Electronic adherence sensors allow review of controller and rescue medication use through a cloud-based dashboard and provides an opportunity for real-time assessment and intervention by providers to improve asthma outcomes.

School-Based Telemedicine for Asthma Management

Asthma affects 10% of school-age children in the United States. These numbers nearly double in high-risk populations such as low-income and minority populations. Patients in these populations frequently live in communities that are medically underserved, with limited resources to implement comprehensive asthma interventions. It is important for researchers and clinicians to explore avenues to reduce the burden of illness in this population. Incorporating innovative strategies such as school-based telemedicine programs can potentially reduce morbidity, health care utilization, work absenteeism for caregivers, and school absenteeism for children with asthma. The aim of this review is to discuss the potential benefits of school-based asthma telemedicine programs, explore potential implementation models, and provide a comprehensive review of the literature including programs that use telemedicine in schools to assist with the management of asthma. Telemedicine is a feasible approach to increasing access to primary and specialty asthma care; however, there is a need for future randomized trials to establish best practices for implementation of telemedicine programs to aid in the care for children in school settings.

Implementing Telehealth in Pediatric Asthma

Pediatric patients with uncontrolled asthma often live in underserved areas such as rural communities where few pediatric asthma specialists exist. There are significant costs associated with acute asthma exacerbations, which are increasingly prevalent in these high-risk populations. Telemedicine is a viable option when addressing barriers in access to care and cost-efficiency. Implementing telemedicine in schools and other local community settings, as well as implementing innovative technology such as smartphone applications, can reduce the burden of asthma; increase patient satisfaction; and, most importantly, improve pediatric asthma outcomes.

Telehealth delivery of adherence and medication management system improves outcomes in inner-city children with asthma

Healthcare disparities exist in pediatric asthma in the United States. Children from minority, low-income families in inner-city areas encounter barriers to healthcare, leading to greater rates of poorly controlled asthma and healthcare utilization. Finding an effective way to deliver high-quality healthcare to this underserved population to improve outcomes, reduce morbidity and mortality, and reduce healthcare utilization is of the utmost importance. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of a novel school-based care delivery model that incorporates video-based telehealth (VBT) medical and self-management visits with electronic inhaler monitoring to improve asthma outcomes. Over a 6-month period, children from inner-city, low-income schools with uncontrolled asthma completed seven scheduled medical visits with an asthma specialist and five self-management visits with an adherence psychologist at school using VBT. Composite Asthma Severity Index (CASI) scores and electronic inhaler monitor data were recorded and analyzed. A total of 21 patients were enrolled in the study. Study subjects with higher baseline severity (CASI ≥ 4 at visit 1) demonstrated a greater reduction in their score than those with lower baseline severity (CASI < 4 at visit 1). The CASI domains showed improvement in daytime symptoms, nighttime symptoms, and exacerbations. Adherence results demonstrated a significant improvement in adherence from baseline to postintervention. Study retention was 100%. This study demonstrates that a multicomponent medical and behavioral interventional program delivered by VBT to a school-based setting is feasible and can significantly improve asthma outcomes and care in a challenging population.

Telemedical Asthma Education and Health Care Outcomes for School-Age Children: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Telemedicine in a school-based setting involving partnerships between a child with asthma and health care provider can provide patients and caregivers with opportunities to better manage chronic conditions, communicate among partners, and collaborate for solutions in convenient locations.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review examined outcomes for school-age children with asthma involving asthma-based telemedical education.

METHODS

Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, we searched 4 databases with terms related to asthma, education, and pediatrics. Included articles involved a school-based setting, children and adolescents, a telemedical mechanism for training, empirical study designs, and peer review. We extracted data regarding (a) participant background, (b) research methods and purpose, and (c) outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 408 articles were identified. Five met inclusion criteria. Three studies were randomized and 2 were cohort studies. In addition to clinical and educational outcomes, studies reported on satisfaction, self-management, asthma knowledge gain, and quality of life (QOL). We found support for caregiver/parent QOL and participant self-management behaviors. We also found mixed results for participant QOL. Clinical outcomes showed mixed support regarding airway inflammation improvement, medication use improvement, improvements in symptom burden and symptom-free days, and spirometry improvements.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of real-time telemedically delivered asthma education to improve QOL, enhance symptom management ability, and reduce symptom burden were positive or nonsignificant. No study indicated negative effects due to telemedicine. Limited results indicate that patient education can, under certain circumstances, positively influence asthma burden. Further validation of intervention methods and tools as well as outcome measurement consistency is recommended.

School-Based Telemedicine Interventions for Asthma: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

School health systems are increasingly investing in telemedicine platforms to address acute and chronic illnesses. Asthma, the most common chronic illness in childhood, is of particular interest given its high burden on school absenteeism.

OBJECTIVE

Conduct a systematic review evaluating impact of school-based telemedicine programs on improving asthma-related outcomes.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, ERIC, PsycINFO, Embase, and Google Scholar.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Original research, including quasi-experimental studies, without restriction on the type of telemedicine.

PARTICIPANTS

School-aged pediatric patients with asthma and their families.

INTERVENTIONS

School-based telemedicine.

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS

Two authors independently screened each abstract, conducted full-text review, assessed study quality, and extracted information. A third author resolved disagreements.

RESULTS

Of 371 articles identified, 7 were included for the review. Outcomes of interest were asthma symptom-free days, asthma symptom frequency, quality of life, health care utilization, school absences, and spirometry. Four of 7 studies reported significant increases in symptom-free days and/or decrease in symptom frequency. Five of 6 reported increases in at least one quality-of-life metric, 2 of 7 reported a decrease in at least 1 health care utilization metric, 1 of 3 showed reductions in school absences, and 1 of 2 reported improvements in spirometry measures.

LIMITATIONS

Variability in intervention designs and outcome measures make comparisons and quantitative analyses across studies difficult. Only 2 of 7 studies were randomized controlled trials.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS

High-quality evidence supporting the use of school-based telemedicine programs to improve patient outcomes is limited. While available evidence suggests benefit, only 2 comparative trials were identified, and the contribution of telemedicine to these studies' results is unclear.

Association of a School-Based, Asthma-Focused Telehealth Program With Emergency Department Visits Among Children Enrolled in South Carolina Medicaid

IMPORTANCE

Telehealth may improve access to care for populations in rural communities. However, little is known about the effectiveness of telehealth programs designed for children.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the associations of a school-based telehealth program in Williamsburg county (South Carolina) with all-cause emergency department (ED) visits made by children enrolled in Medicaid.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This Medicaid claims data analysis was conducted in Williamsburg county and 4 surrounding counties in South Carolina and included children aged 3 to 17 years who were enrolled in Medicaid and living in any of the 5 counties from January 2012 to December 2017. Williamsburg served as the intervention and the 4 surrounding counties without a telehealth program as the control; 2012 to 2014 was designated as the preintervention period, whereas 2015 to 2017 served as the postintervention period. The study was designed with a difference-in-differences specification, in which the unit-of-analysis was a child-month, and a subsample included children with asthma. The data analysis was performed from July 2018 to February 2019.

EXPOSURES

The school-based telehealth program implemented in Williamsburg county in 2015.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The binary outcome was the status of at least 1 all-cause ED visit by a child in a given month.

RESULTS

The full sample included 2 443 405 child-months from 23 198 children in Williamsburg county and 213 164 children in the control counties. The mean (SD) proportions of monthly ED visits in Williamsburg were 3.65% (0.10%) during the preintervention and 3.87% (0.11%) during the postintervention. The corresponding proportions of the 4 control counties were 3.37% preintervention (0.04%), and 3.56% postintervention (0.04%), respectively. The trends in the proportion were paralleled. In the asthma subsample, the proportions in Williamsburg were 3.16% (0.31%) during the preintervention and 3.38% (0.34%) during the postintervention, respectively. The proportions for the control counties were 3.02% preintervention (0.10%) and 3.90% postintervention (0.11%), respectively. There was an interaction of the proportions between the pre/postintervention period and the intervention/control counties in this subsample. The regression analysis of the full sample showed no association of the telehealth program with ED visits. The additional analysis of the asthma subsample showed that this program was associated with a reduction of 0.66 (95% CI, -1.16 to -0.17; P < .01) percentage point per 100 children per month in ED visits, representing an approximately 21% relative decrease.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Although we found no association of this program with the ED visits of the overall studied population, this study suggests that telehealth with a focus on chronic pediatric diseases, such as asthma, may deliver substantial health benefits to rural and medically underserved communities.

The Use of Telehealth in School-Based Health Centers

Telehealth is a growing model of delivering health care. School-based health centers (SBHCs) provide access to health care for youth in schools and increasingly use telehealth in care delivery. This article examines the recent growth of telehealth use in SBHCs, and characteristics of SBHCs using telehealth, including provider types, operational characteristics, and schools and students served. The percentage of SBHCs using telehealth grew from 7% in 2007-2008 to 19% in 2016-2017. Over 1 million students in over 1800 public schools have access to an SBHC using telehealth, which represents 2% of students and nearly 2% of public schools in the United States. These SBHCs are primarily in rural communities and sponsored by hospitals. This growing model presents an opportunity to expand health care access to youth, particularly in underserved areas in the United States and globally. Further research is needed to fully describe how telehealth programs are implemented in school settings and their potential impacts.

Examination of the uses, needs, and preferences for health technology use in adolescents with asthma

Objective: To examine the health technology uses and preferences of adolescents with asthma using a qualitative descriptive individual interview approach. Methods: Twenty adolescents were recruited from regularly scheduled asthma clinic appointments from February to July 2016. Patients were interviewed about their technology use and ways in which health technology could improve their asthma management using an open-ended semi-structured interview format. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded into themes. Results: Social media (e.g. Snapchat, Instagram) and general communication (e.g. messaging) were the most common uses of technology while medical reminders (e.g. appointment, refill, medication) were the most common use of health technology. Adolescents identified ways in which health technology could improve their asthma management including (1) tracking symptoms and medication, (2) medical reminders, and (3) asthma and self-management knowledge specifically related to medications and individual action plans. Other themes that emerged included a desire to customize health technology to fit with individual schedules and medical routines and use of health technology data with medical providers. Conclusions: Adolescents and parents experience a number of challenges related to managing asthma, and health technology interventions should focus on ways to improve adherence and self-management. Future research considerations and potential interventions including ways to integrate adolescent preferences with evidence-based interventions are discussed.

Perceptions of caregivers and adolescents of the use of telemedicine for the child sexual abuse examination

BACKGROUND

Childhood sexual abuse is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. All victims should receive a timely comprehensive medical exam. Currently there is a critical shortage of child abuse pediatricians who can complete the comprehensive child sexual abuse examination. Telemedicine has emerged as an innovative way to provide subspecialty care to this population. Despite the growing popularity of telemedicine, no literature exists describing patient and caregiver perceptions of telemedicine for this sensitive exam.

OBJECTIVE

To explore caregiver and adolescent perspectives of the use of telemedicine for the child sexual abuse examination and discover factors that drive satisfaction with the technology.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Caregivers and adolescents who presented for a child sexual abuse medical evaluation at our county's child advocacy center.

METHODS

We completed semi structured interviews of 17 caregivers and 10 adolescents. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model interviews assessed perceptions about: general feelings with the exam, prior use of technology, feelings about telemedicine, and role of the medical team. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded and analyzed using content analysis with constant comparative coding. Recruitment ended when thematic saturation was reached.

RESULTS

There was an overwhelming positive response to telemedicine. Participants reported having a good experience with telemedicine regardless of severity of sexual abuse or prior experience with technology. Behaviors that helped patients and caregivers feel comfortable included a clear explanation from the medical team and professionalism demonstrated by those using the telemedicine system.

CONCLUSION

Telemedicine was widely accepted by adolescents and caregivers when used for the child sexual abuse examination.

Effect of the School-Based Telemedicine Enhanced Asthma Management (SB-TEAM) Program on Asthma Morbidity: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Poor adherence to recommended preventive asthma medications is common, leading to preventable morbidity. We developed the School-Based Telemedicine Enhanced Asthma Management (SB-TEAM) program to build on school-based supervised therapy programs by incorporating telemedicine at school to overcome barriers to preventive asthma care.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of the SB-TEAM program on asthma morbidity among urban children with persistent asthma.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In this randomized clinical trial, children with persistent asthma aged 3 to 10 years in the Rochester City School District in Rochester, New York, were stratified by preventive medication use at baseline and randomly assigned to the SB-TEAM program or enhanced usual care for 1 school year. Participants were enrolled at the beginning of the school year (2012-2016), and outcomes were assessed through the end of the school year. Data were analyzed between May 2017 and November 2017 using multivariable modified intention-to-treat analyses.

INTERVENTIONS

Supervised administration of preventive asthma medication at school as well as 3 school-based telemedicine visits to ensure appropriate assessment, preventive medication prescription, and follow-up care. The school site component of the telemedicine visit was completed by telemedicine assistants, who obtained history and examination data. These data were stored in a secure virtual waiting room and then viewed by the primary care clinician, who completed the assessment and communicated with caregivers via videoconference or telephone. Preventive medication prescriptions were sent to pharmacies that deliver to schools for supervised daily administration.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was the mean number of symptom-free days per 2 weeks, assessed by bimonthly blinded interviews.

RESULTS

Of the 400 enrolled children, 247 (61.8%) were male and 230 (57.5%) were African American, and the mean (SD) age was 7.8 (1.7) years. Demographic characteristics and asthma severity in the 2 groups were similar at baseline. Among children in the SB-TEAM group, 196 (98.0%) had 1 or more telemedicine visits, and 165 (82.5%) received supervised therapy through school. We found that children in the SB-TEAM group had more symptom-free days per 2 weeks postintervention compared with children in the enhanced usual care group (11.6 vs 10.97; difference, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.15-1.22; P = .01), with the largest difference observed at the final follow-up (difference, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.10-1.59). In addition, children in the SB-TEAM group were less likely to have an emergency department visit or hospitalization for asthma (7% vs 15%; odds ratio, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.32-0.84).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The SB-TEAM intervention significantly improved symptoms and reduced health care utilization among urban children with persistent asthma. This program could serve as a model for sustainable asthma care among school-aged children.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01650844.

Telemedicine is as effective as in-person visits for patients with asthma

BACKGROUND

Access to asthma specialists is a problem, particularly in rural areas, thus presenting an opportunity for management using telemedicine.

OBJECTIVE

To compare asthma outcomes during 6 months in children managed by telemedicine vs in-person visits.

METHODS

Children with asthma residing in 2 remote locations were offered the choice of an in-person visit or a telemedicine session at a local clinic. The telemedicine process involved real-time use of a Remote Presence Solution (RPS) equipped with a digital stethoscope, otoscope, and high-resolution camera. A telefacilitator operated the RPS and performed diagnostic and educational procedures, such as spirometry and asthma education. Children in both groups were assessed initially, after 30 days, and at 6 months. Asthma outcome measures included asthma control using validated tools (Asthma Control Test, Childhood Asthma Control Test, and Test for Respiratory and Asthma Control in Kids) and patient satisfaction (telemedicine group only). Noninferiority analysis of asthma control was performed using the minimally important difference of an adjusted asthma control test that combined the 3 age groups.

RESULTS

Of 169 children, 100 were seen in-person and 69 via telemedicine. A total of 34 in-person and 40 telemedicine patients completed all 3 visits. All had a small, although statistically insignificant, improvement in asthma control over time. Telemedicine was noninferior to in-person visits. Most of the telemedicine group subjects were satisfied with their experience.

CONCLUSION

Children with asthma seen by telemedicine or in-person visits can achieve comparable degrees of asthma control. Telemedicine can be a viable alternative to traditional in-person physician-based care for the treatment and management of asthma.

Synchronous telehealth for outpatient allergy consultations: A 2-year regional experience

BACKGROUND

Telehealth continues to advance as a health care modality; however, reported experience for synchronous TeleAllergy is limited.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the percentage of new and follow-up visits conducted via TeleAllergy in a hospital-based clinic.

METHODS

A retrospective study evaluating the first 2 years of a synchronous patient-to-allergist TeleAllergy platform.

RESULTS

A total of 112 synchronous TeleAllergy encounters were conducted from January 2014 through December 2015; 66 (59%) of these were new consultations. The mean (SD) age was 26.9 (15.3) years, and 54% of the participants were female. Food allergy (30%), allergic rhinitis (20%), and urticaria (16%) represented the top 3 consultation reasons. Sixteen of 66 patients (24.2%) and 3 of 46 patients (6.5%) attending new and follow-up TeleAllergy visits, respectively, were recommended for an in-person appointment (P = .02). No difference was found between new and follow-up TeleAllergy visits regarding subsequent telephone communication (41% vs 26%, P = .11) or prescriptions ordered (50% vs 33%, P = .08). New TeleAllergy visits were more likely to have more than 1 laboratory test ordered (45% vs 17%, P = .002). On the basis of patient location, the 112 TeleAllergy visits resulted in an estimated savings of 200 workdays or schooldays, US$58,000 in travel-related costs, and 80,000 kilometers not driven.

CONCLUSION

Both new and follow-up visits to the allergist/immunologist were well received by patients and demonstrated significant indirect cost savings, with less than one fourth of the patients recommended for an in-person visit. This appears to be the first systematic assessment of TeleAllergy for new and follow-up patient encounters in a clinic-based allergy/immunology practice.

Addressing health disparities in rural communities using telehealth

The regionalization of pediatric services has resulted in differential access to care, sometimes creating barriers to those living in underserved, rural communities. These disparities in access contribute to inferior healthcare outcomes among infants and children. We review the medical literature on telemedicine and its use to improve access and the quality of care provided to pediatric patients with otherwise limited access to pediatric subspecialty care. We review the use of telemedicine for the provision of pediatric subspecialty consultations in the settings of ambulatory care, acute and inpatient care, and perinatal and newborn care. Studies demonstrate the feasibility and efficiencies gained with models of care that use telemedicine. By providing pediatric subspecialty care in more convenient settings such as local primary care offices and community hospitals, pediatric patients are more likely to receive care that adheres to evidence-based guidelines. In many cases, telemedicine can significantly improve provider, patient, and family satisfaction, increase measures of quality of care and patient safety, and reduce overall costs of care. Models of care that use telemedicine have the potential to address pediatric specialists' geographic misdistribution and address disparities in the quality of care delivered to children in underserved communities.

Telemedicine: Pediatric Applications

Telemedicine is a technological tool that is improving the health of children around the world. This report chronicles the use of telemedicine by pediatricians and pediatric medical and surgical specialists to deliver inpatient and outpatient care, educate physicians and patients, and conduct medical research. It also describes the importance of telemedicine in responding to emergencies and disasters and providing access to pediatric care to remote and underserved populations. Barriers to telemedicine expansion are explained, such as legal issues, inadequate payment for services, technology costs and sustainability, and the lack of technology infrastructure on a national scale. Although certain challenges have constrained more widespread implementation, telemedicine's current use bears testimony to its effectiveness and potential. Telemedicine's widespread adoption will be influenced by the implementation of key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, technological advances, and growing patient demand for virtual visits.

A systematic review of telehealth tools and interventions to support family caregivers

We conducted a systematic review of studies employing telehealth interventions which focused on family caregivers' outcomes. The Embase, CINHAL, Cochrane and PubMed databases were searched using combinations of keywords including "telehealth," "telemedicine," "telecare," "telemonitoring," "caregiver" and "family." The initial search produced 4205 articles, of which 65 articles met the inclusion criteria. The articles included 52 experimental studies, 11 evaluation studies, one case study and one secondary analysis. Thirty-three articles focused on family caregivers of adult and older patients, while 32 articles focused on parental caregivers of paediatric patients. The technologies included video, web-based, telephone-based and telemetry/remote monitoring. Six main categories of interventions were delivered via technology: education, consultation (including decision support), psychosocial/cognitive behavioural therapy (including problem solving training), social support, data collection and monitoring, and clinical care delivery. More than 95% of the studies reported significant improvements in the caregivers' outcomes and that caregivers were satisfied and comfortable with telehealth. The review showed that telehealth can positively affect chronic disease care, home and hospice care.

Telehealth in the school setting: an integrative review

Telehealth, the provision of health care through long-distance telecommunications technology, is a tool that can be used by school nurses to address and improve the health status of schoolchildren. The purpose of this literature review is to examine research related to implementation of telehealth in the school setting. A review of the literature was conducted using CINAHL, ERIC, Medline, and PubMed databases and the search terms such as telehealth, telecare, telemedicine, school, and schools. Fifteen research studies related to telehealth in the school setting were identified. Themes identified included benefits, barriers, feasibility, and limitations of telehealth. Implications for practice are presented, along with the potential of telehealth to integrate with the Affordable Care Act. School nurses who use telehealth can further meet the health needs of children in their care. The future of health care and school nursing is changing, and telehealth is a tool that can improve care in an innovative and efficient way.

Practicing medicine without borders: tele-consultations and tele-mentoring for improving paediatric care in a conflict setting in Somalia?

OBJECTIVES

In a district hospital in conflict-torn Somalia, we assessed (i) the impact of introducing telemedicine on the quality of paediatric care, and (ii) the added value as perceived by local clinicians.

METHODS

A 'real-time' audio-visual exchange of information on paediatric cases (Audiosoft Technologies, Quebec, Canada) took place between clinicians in Somalia and a paediatrician in Nairobi. The study involved a retrospective analysis of programme data, and a perception study among the local clinicians.

RESULTS

Of 3920 paediatric admissions, 346 (9%) were referred for telemedicine. In 222 (64%) children, a significant change was made to initial case management, while in 88 (25%), a life-threatening condition was detected that had been initially missed. There was a progressive improvement in the capacity of clinicians to manage complicated cases as demonstrated by a significant linear decrease in changes to initial case management for meningitis and convulsions (92-29%, P = 0.001), lower respiratory tract infection (75-45%, P = 0.02) and complicated malnutrition (86-40%, P = 0.002). Adverse outcomes (deaths and lost to follow-up) fell from 7.6% in 2010 (without telemedicine) to 5.4% in 2011 with telemedicine (30% reduction, odds ratio 0.70, 95% CI: 0.57-0.88, P = -0.001). The number needed to be treated through telemedicine to prevent one adverse outcome was 45. All seven clinicians involved with telemedicine rated it to be of high added value.

CONCLUSION

The introduction of telemedicine significantly improved quality of paediatric care in a remote conflict setting and was of high added value to distant clinicians.

The use of telemedicine access to schools to facilitate expert assessment of children with asthma

Research has shown that access to an asthma specialist improves asthma outcomes. We hypothesized that we could improve access to expert asthma care through a telemedicine link between an asthma specialist and a school-based asthma program. We conducted a prospective cohort study in 3 urban schools to ascertain the feasibility of using an asthma-focused telemedicine solution. Each subject was seen by an asthma expert at 0, 8, and 32 weeks. The assessment and recommendations for care were sent to the primary care physician (PCP) and parents were told to contact their physician for follow-up care. Eighty three subjects participated in the study. Subjects experienced improvement (P < .05) in family social activities and the number of asthma attacks. Ninety four percent of subjects rated the program as good or excellent. This study demonstrates the feasibility and acceptance of a school-based asthma program using a telemedicine link to an asthma specialist.

A randomized controlled trial of an interactive voice response telephone system and specialist nurse support for childhood asthma management

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effects of an automated interactive voice response system (IVR) and Specialist Nurse Support to reduce health care utilization and improve health-related quality of life in children with asthma.

STUDY DESIGN

A randomized controlled trial in 121 children with doctor-diagnosed asthma and an acute presentation with asthma in the previous 12 months aged between 3 and 16 years. Children were randomized to one of three groups for a 6-month intervention receiving asthma education and management support from a Specialist Nurse by telephone or e-mail (N = 41), from IVR (N = 39), or receiving usual care (control group; N = 41). Outcomes included health care utilization and use of oral steroid rescue. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) data using the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory were collected at baseline and at the end of the study.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant benefit identified for either the IVR or the Nurse Support interventions for health care utilization, use of oral steroid rescue, or HRQOL compared with controls. Relative to controls, the incremental costs were -A$225.73 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -A$840, A$391) per child for the Nurse Support intervention and -A$451.45 (-A$1075, A$173) per child for IVR. The results were most sensitive to the frequency of admissions to hospital.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that both IVR and Nurse Support interventions may be cost-saving from a health system perspective, with IVR providing the greatest benefit and this pilot study provides a strong basis for developing larger trials with longer follow-up.

Health information technology to facilitate communication involving health care providers, caregivers, and pediatric patients: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Pediatric patients with health conditions requiring follow-up typically depend on a caregiver to mediate at least part of the necessary two-way communication with health care providers on their behalf. Health information technology (HIT) and its subset, information communication technology (ICT), are increasingly being applied to facilitate communication between health care provider and caregiver in these situations. Awareness of the extent and nature of published research involving HIT interventions used in this way is currently lacking.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review was designed to map the health literature about HIT used to facilitate communication involving health care providers and caregivers (who are usually family members) of pediatric patients with health conditions requiring follow-up.

METHODS

Terms relating to care delivery, information technology, and pediatrics were combined to search MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL for the years 1996 to 2008. Eligible studies were selected after three rounds of duplicate screening in which all authors participated. Data regarding patient, caregiver, health care provider, HIT intervention, outcomes studied, and study design were extracted and maintained in a Microsoft Access database. Stage of research was categorized using the UK's Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions. Quantitative and qualitative descriptive summaries are presented.

RESULTS

We included 104 eligible studies (112 articles) conducted in 17 different countries and representing 30 different health conditions. The most common conditions were asthma, type 1 diabetes, special needs, and psychiatric disorder. Most studies (88, 85%) included children 2 to 12 years of age, and 73 (71%) involved home care settings. Health care providers operated in hospital settings in 96 (92%) of the studies. Interventions featured 12 modes of communication (eg, Internet, intranets, telephone, video conferencing, email, short message service [SMS], and manual downloading of information) used to facilitate 15 categories of functions (eg, support, medication management, education, and monitoring). Numerous patient, caregiver, and health care relevant outcomes have been measured. Most outcomes concerned satisfaction, use, usability, feasibility, and resource use, although behavior changes and quality of life were also reported. Most studies (57 studies, 55%) were pilot phase, with a lesser proportion of development phase (24 studies, 23%) and evaluation phase (11 studies, 11%) studies. HIT interventions addressed several recurring themes in this review: establishing continuity of care, addressing time constraints, and bridging geographical barriers.

CONCLUSIONS

HIT used in pediatric care involving caregivers has been implemented differently in a range of disease settings, with varying needs influencing the function, form and synchronicity of information transfer. Although some authors have followed a phased approach to development, evaluation and implementation, a greater emphasis on methodological standards such as the MRC guidance for complex interventions would produce more fruitful programs of development and more useful evaluations in the future. This review will be especially helpful to those deciding on areas where further development or research into HIT for this purpose may be warranted.

Rural school-based telehealth: how to make it happen

When organizing new health care interventions among a rural population, a careful planning process respecting community-specific considerations should be used. The project objective centered on the successful implementation of a school-based telehealth clinic serving a rural, health-disparate population. Using an American Academy of Pediatrics Community Access to Child Health planning grant, a needs assessment of the Delta community was conducted. In synthesizing the results of this planning project, consensually addressed issues led to establishing a pilot school-based telehealth clinic within the rural county schools. Seven essential steps emerged as a set of guidelines that entities might consider in introducing a telemedicine school-based service in a rural community. The steps included assessing local and regional needs, securing community support and establishing goals, evaluating resources, configuring logistics, training staff, informing parents, and launching the clinic. Proper planning is crucial to the establishment of a rural school-based telehealth clinic.

An internet-based interactive telemonitoring system for improving childhood asthma outcomes in Taiwan

A randomized, controlled trial was conducted to assess the effectiveness of Blue Angel for Asthma Kids, an Internet-based interactive asthma educational and monitoring program, used in the management of asthmatic children. One hundred sixty-four (n = 164) pediatric patients with persistent asthma were enrolled and randomized into two study groups for a 12-week controlled trial. The intervention group had 88 participants who were taught to monitor their peak expiratory flows (PEF) and asthma symptoms daily on the Internet. They also received an interactive response consisting of a self-management plan from the Blue Angel monitoring program. The control group had 76 participants who received a traditional asthma care plan consisting of a written asthma diary supplemented with instructions for self-management. Disease control was assessed by weekly averaged PEF values, symptom scores, and asthma control tests. Adherence measures were assessed by therapeutic and diagnostic monitoring. Outcome was assessed by examining quality of life and retention of asthma knowledge. The data were analyzed by comparing results before and after the trial. At the end of trial, the intervention group decreased nighttime (-0.08 +/- 0.33 vs. 0.00 +/- 0.20, p = 0.028) and daytime symptoms (-0.08 +/- 0.33 vs. 0.01 +/- 0.18, p =0.009); improved morning (241.9 +/- 81.4 vs. 223.1 +/- 55.5, p =0.017) and night PEF (255.6 +/- 86.7 vs. 232.5 +/- 55.3, p =0.010); increased adherence rates (p < 0.05); improved well-controlled rates (70.4% vs. 55.3%, p < 0.05); improved knowledge regarding self-management (93.2% vs. 70.3%, p < 0.05); and improved quality of life (6.5 +/- 0.5 vs. 4.3 +/- 1.2 on a 7-point scale, p < 0.05) when compared with conventional management. The Internet-based asthma telemonitoring program increases selfmanagement skills, improves asthma outcomes, and appears to be an effective and well-accepted technology for the care of children with asthma and their caregivers.

Internet-based home monitoring and education of children with asthma is comparable to ideal office-based care: results of a 1-year asthma in-home monitoring trial

OBJECTIVE

The goal was to determine whether home asthma telemonitoring with store-and-forward technology improved outcomes, compared with in-person, office-based visits.

METHODS

A total of 120 patients, 6 to 17 years of age, with persistent asthma were assigned randomly to the office-based or virtual group. The 2 groups followed the same ambulatory clinical pathway for 12 months. Office-based group patients received traditional in-person education and case management. Virtual group patients received computers, Internet connections, and in-home, Internet-based case management and received education through the study Web site. Disease control outcome measures included quality of life, utilization of services, and symptom control.

RESULTS

A total of 120 volunteers (45 female) were enrolled. The groups were clinically comparable (office-based: 22 female/38 male; mean age: 9.0 +/- 3.0 years; virtual: 23 female/37 male; mean age: 10.2 +/- 3.1 years). Virtual patients had higher metered-dose inhaler with valved holding chamber technique scores than did the office-based group at 52 weeks (94% vs 89%), had greater adherence to daily asthma symptom diary submission (35.4% vs 20.8%), had less participant time (636 vs 713 patient-months), and were older. Caregivers in both groups perceived an increase in quality of life and an increase in asthma knowledge scores from baseline. There were no other differences in therapeutic or disease control outcome measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Virtual group patients achieved excellent asthma therapeutic and disease control outcomes. Compared with those who received standardized office-based care, they were more adherent to diary submission and had better inhaler scores at 52 weeks. Store-and-forward telemedicine technology and case management provide additional tools to assist in the management of children with persistent asthma.

Telephone follow-up, initiated by a hospital-based health professional, for postdischarge problems in patients discharged from hospital to home

BACKGROUND

It is known that many patients encounter a variety of problems in the first weeks after they have been discharged from hospital to home. In recent years many projects have addressed discharge planning, with the aim of reducing problems after discharge. Telephone follow-up (TFU) is seen as a good means of exchanging information, providing health education and advice, managing symptoms, recognising complications early, giving reassurance and providing quality aftercare service. Some research has shown that telephone follow-up is feasible, and that patients appreciate such calls. However, at present it is not clear whether TFU is also effective in reducing postdischarge problems.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of follow-up telephone calls in the first month post discharge, initiated by hospital-based health professionals, to patients discharged from hospital to home.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the following databases from their start date to July 2003, without limits as to date of publication or language: the Cochrane Consumers and Communication Review Group's Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library), PubMed, EMBASE (OVID), BiomedCentral, CINAHL, ERIC (OVID), INVERT (Dutch nursing literature index), LILACS, Picarta (Dutch library system), PsycINFO/PsycLIT (OVID), the Combined Social and Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-E), SOCIOFILE. We searched for ongoing research in the following databases: National Research Register (http://www.update-software.com/nrr/); Controlled Clinical Trials (http://www.controlled-trials.com/); and Clinical Trials (http://clinicaltrials.gov/). We searched the reference lists of included studies and contacted researchers active in this area.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials of TFU initiated by a hospital-based health professional, for patients discharged home from an acute hospital setting. The intervention was delivered within the first month after discharge; outcomes were measured within 3 months after discharge, and either the TFU was the only intervention, or its effect could be analysed separately.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion and for methodological quality. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the criteria from the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Review Group. The data-extraction form was based on the template developed by the Cochrane Consumers and Communication Review Group. Data was extracted by one review author and checked by a second author. For as far it was considered that there was enough clinical homogeneity with regard to patient groups and measured outcomes, statistical pooling was planned using a random effects model and standardised mean differences for continuous scales and relative risks for dichotomous data, and tests for statistical heterogeneity were performed.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 33 studies involving 5110 patients. Predominantly, the studies were of low methodological quality. TFU has been applied in many patient groups. There is a large variety in the ways the TFU was performed (the health professionals who undertook the TFU, frequency, structure, duration, etc.). Many different outcomes have been measured, but only a few were measured across more than one study. Effects are not constant across studies, nor within patient groups. Due to methodological and clinical diversity, quantitative pooling could only be performed for a few outcomes. Of the eight meta-analyses in this review, five showed considerable statistical heterogeneity. Overall, there was inconclusive evidence about the effects of TFU.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The low methodological quality of the included studies means that results must be considered with caution. No adverse effects were reported. Nevertheless, although some studies find that the intervention had favourable effects for some outcomes, overall the studies show clinically-equivalent results between TFU and control groups. In summary, we cannot conclude that TFU is an effective intervention.

A pilot survey of inmate preferences for on-site, visiting consultant, and telemedicine psychiatric services

OBJECTIVE

To assess inmate preferences for in-prison mental health services, outside psychiatric consultants, and telemedicine psychiatric consultation for 16 mental health services.

METHODS

Structured interviews were conducted of the service modality preferences of 28 inmates who received psychiatric telemedicine consultations in New York State Department of Corrections facilities.

RESULTS

For five of the 16 mental health services assessed, a significantly larger proportion of inmates preferred delivery of mental services by their on-site mental health team to an outside psychiatric consultant, whether visiting or using telemedicine. For another eight services, inmate preferences were approximately equal. For three services (treatment progress, evaluation of childhood sexual abuse, and sexual concerns), inmates reported a trend toward preference for outside consultation (visiting and telemedicine combined). For no service did inmates prefer telemedicine to a visiting consultant.

CONCLUSION

Although inmates prefer the use of on-site mental health professionals for many mental health services, some inmates prefer visiting or telemedicine consultants for the evaluation of safety and sexual issues. Because telemedicine is efficient and readily available, its role in these areas requires further evaluation.

A Web-based mobile asthma management system

Continuous recording of daily symptoms constitutes an effective means of managing asthma patients. Daily management reduces the costs associated with hospitalization and improves the quality of patient care. We have implemented a Web-based mobile asthma management system. We used a pocket PC, mobile phone and desktop computer. The recorded items and individualized prescriptions were structured using Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) DTD (Data Type Definition). The mobile Web form was automatically adjusted to fit the different display resolutions of the terminal devices. The system provided reliable exchange of all relevant information between a doctor and the asthma patient using wireless mobile transmission. E-mail and Short Messaging Service (SMS) were used to send messages to patients, for example in the case of an automatically determined patient alert. Patients could obtain customized instructions according to their daily personal symptoms, peak expiratory flow (PEF), medications and activity restriction. The daily graph of PEF and the graphs of symptoms and medication were particularly useful for asthma patient control and self-awareness of the progress of the disease.

Telemedicine: pediatric applications

The newly developing field of telemedicine has the potential to benefit pediatric care by increasing access to pediatric specialists and services. This report explores the current uses and limitations of telemedicine in pediatrics.