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Waheed MA, Al Mannai L, Khudadad H, Alenbawi J, Mansaray MA, Al Abdulla S. Assessment of Qatar's Health Care Community Call Center Efficacy in Addressing COVID-19 Pandemic Health Care Challenges: Cross-Sectional Study. JMIR Form Res 2024; 8:e42753. [PMID: 38085918 PMCID: PMC10798346 DOI: 10.2196/42753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 created many unprecedented challenges for health care organizations worldwide, placing a great deal of strain on the health care systems, especially access to health care services. To address these challenges, Qatar established a centralized digital platform as a community call center, initially offering digital consultations via its hotline (number: 16000) and later expanding to include a COVID-19 vaccination hotline (number: 7077) for mass immunization. OBJECTIVE This study aims to comprehensively examine the community call center's operations and their significant role during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Retrospective data were collected from the Health Information and Technology Department of the Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar, from March 29, 2020, to January 27, 2022. Data analysis for the hotline (number: 16000) focused on telephone and video call volumes, call response rates, abandonment rates, and call classification. In addition, data from the COVID-19 vaccination hotline (number: 7077) were analyzed for call volumes, call response rates, abandonment rates, appointment booking rates, confirmations, rescheduling, and cancellations. RESULTS The hotline (number: 16000) received a substantial total of 429,212 calls, with 284,849 (66.37%) calls effectively answered. The average number of calls received per day during the study period was 640.61 (SD 470.53), and the average number of calls answered per day was 425.14 (SD 206.64). Notably, of the total 128,468 consultations, video consultations were conducted for 3810 (2.96%). Among the diverse call categories, diabetes mellitus (6284/84,299, 7.45%), prescriptions and medications (4709/84,299, 5.59%), hypertension (3874/84,299, 4.6%), vitamin D-related issues (3770/84,299, 4.47%), upper respiratory tract infections (2690/84,299, 3.19%), and COVID-19-related inquiries (2590/84,299, 3.07%) were most frequently addressed. For the COVID-19 vaccination hotline (number: 7077), an impressive total of 1,512,354 calls were received, with a 58.27% (n=881,305) call response rate. The average number of calls per day during the study period was 3828.74 (SD 2931.94), and the average number of calls answered per day was 2231.15 (SD 1496.02). Appointment booking accounted for 26.37% (265,721/1,007,596), appointment confirmation accounted for 10.24% (103,136/1,007,596), rescheduling accounted for 7.95% (80,124/1,007,596), and cancellations accounted for 1.6% (16,128/1,007,596) of the calls. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this research highlight the crucial significance of the community call center hotline (number: 16000) and the COVID-19 vaccination hotline (number: 7077) in effectively addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic. In Qatar, the community call center emerged as an indispensable and accessible centralized resource, facilitating streamlined digital consultations and vaccination appointments. The impressive call response rate highlights its operational efficiency, adeptly managing a diverse range of health-related issues. This study emphasizes the critical role of community call centers in health care emergency response, signaling their potential as invaluable assets for future preparedness and effective mitigation strategies during similar public health crises.
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Sankoda A, Nagae Y, Waki K, Sze WT, Oba K, Mieno M, Nangaku M, Yamauchi T, Ohe K. Glycemic Control, Renal Progression, and Use of Telemedicine Phone Consultations Among Japanese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Cohort Study. JMIR Diabetes 2023; 8:e42607. [PMID: 37315193 DOI: 10.2196/42607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reduced or delayed medical follow-ups have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may lead to worsening clinical outcomes for patients with diabetes. The Japanese government granted special permission for medical institutions to use telephone consultations and other remote communication modes during the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate changes in the frequency of outpatient consultations, glycemic control, and renal function among patients with type 2 diabetes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS This is a retrospective single-cohort study conducted in Tokyo, Japan, analyzing results for 3035 patients who visited the hospital regularly. We compared the frequency of outpatient consultations attended (both in person and via telemedicine phone consultation), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus during the 6 months from April 2020 to September 2020 (ie, during the COVID-19 pandemic) with those during the same period of the previous year, 2019, using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. We conducted a multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify factors related to the changes in glycemic control and eGFR. We also compared the changes in HbA1c and eGFR from 2019 to 2020 among telemedicine users and telemedicine nonusers using difference-in-differences design. RESULTS The overall median number of outpatient consultations attended decreased significantly from 3 (IQR 2-3) in 2019 to 2 (IQR 2-3) in 2020 (P<.001). Median HbA1c levels deteriorated, though not to a clinically significant degree (6.90%, IQR 6.47%-7.39% vs 6.95%, IQR 6.47%-7.40%; P<.001). The decline in median eGFR was greater during the year 2019-2020 compared to the year 2018-2019 (-0.9 vs -0.5 mL/min/1.73 m2; P=.01). Changes in HbA1c and eGFR did not differ between patients who used telemedicine phone consultations and those who did not. Age and HbA1c level before the pandemic were positive predictors of worsening glycemic control during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas the number of outpatient consultations attended was identified as a negative predictor of worsening glycemic control during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in reduced attendance of outpatient consultations among patients with type 2 diabetes, and these patients also experienced deterioration in kidney function. Difference in consultation modality (in person or by phone) did not affect glycemic control and renal progression of the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Sankoda
- Department of Planning, Information and Management, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yugo Nagae
- Department of Planning, Information and Management, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kayo Waki
- Department of Planning, Information and Management, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wei Thing Sze
- Department of Planning, Information and Management, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koji Oba
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makiko Mieno
- Department of Medical Informatics, Center for Information, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Masaomi Nangaku
- Division of Nephrology and Endocrinology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshimasa Yamauchi
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Ohe
- Department of Planning, Information and Management, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Zhou J, Dang W, Luo Z, Fan X, Shi H, Deng N, Xiong G. Telenursing needs and influencing factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study. J Clin Nurs 2023; 32:7298-7309. [PMID: 37337624 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study aimed to determine the relationship between the demand for telenursing and the chronic illness resources available to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), as well as the factors that affect this requirement. DESIGN Cross-sectional. METHODS This study included 586 participants with T2DM. A telenursing needs questionnaire developed by the research team was used to assess the telenursing needs of patients with T2DM, and the Chinese version of the Chronic Illness Resources Survey was used to assess the participants' community chronic disease resources. A one-way ANOVA and multiple regression analysis were used to determine the factors influencing the demand for telenursing and to estimate the relationship between chronic illness resources and the need for telenursing. The STROBE checklist was followed. RESULTS The patients' telenursing needs, ranked from high to low, are as follows: individualized skills and safety; basic disease care; psychological and spiritual needs; respect and social support; and high-level health management. The chronic disease resource score was 3.47 ± .02, which suggested that patients with T2DM have relatively rich disease resources. Multiple regression analyses showed that resources for chronic diseases, the course of diabetes and complications, family income and other chronic diseases accounted for 79.6% of the variance in T2DM patients' telenursing needs. CONCLUSIONS The telenursing needs of patients with T2DM are prominent, and primarily focus on basic nursing needs for the disease. To some extent, chronic disease resources affect the telenursing needs of patients with T2DM. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE It is crucial to pay attention to research on telenursing for T2DM patients from the patients' perspective. Enhancing resources for chronic diseases may help meet the telenursing needs of T2DM patients. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION Parents and diabetes management specialists participated in designing the telenursing needs questionnaire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhou
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Wantai Dang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Zongting Luo
- Department of Nursing, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu & The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xinxin Fan
- School of nursing, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Hui Shi
- Department of Nursing, Chengdu Seventh People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Na Deng
- Department of Nursing, Chengdu Seventh People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Guizhi Xiong
- Department of Nursing, Bazhong Central Hospital, Bazhong, China
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Nieto-Martínez R, De Oliveira-Gomes D, Gonzalez-Rivas JP, Al-Rousan T, Mechanick JI, Danaei G. Telehealth and cardiometabolic-based chronic disease: optimizing preventive care in forcibly displaced migrant populations. JOURNAL OF HEALTH, POPULATION, AND NUTRITION 2023; 42:93. [PMID: 37667387 PMCID: PMC10478318 DOI: 10.1186/s41043-023-00418-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
The number of migrants, which includes forcibly displaced refugees, asylum seekers, and undocumented persons, is increasing worldwide. The global migrant population is heterogeneous in terms of medical conditions and vulnerability resulting from non-optimal metabolic risk factors in the country of origin (e.g., abnormal adiposity, dysglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia), adverse travel conditions and the resulting stress, poverty, and anxiety, and varying effects of acculturation and access to healthcare services in the country of destination. Therefore, many of these migrants develop a high risk for cardiovascular disease and face the significant challenge of overcoming economic and health system barriers to accessing quality healthcare. In the host countries, healthcare professionals experience difficulties providing care to migrants, including cultural and language barriers, and limited institutional capacities, especially for those with non-legal status. Telehealth is an effective strategy to mitigate cardiometabolic risk factors primarily by promoting healthy lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapeutic adjustments. In this descriptive review, the role of telehealth in preventing the development and progression of cardiometabolic disease is explored with a specific focus on type 2 diabetes and hypertension in forcibly displaced migrants. Until now, there are few studies showing that culturally adapted telehealth services can decrease the burden of T2D and HTN. Despite study limitations, telehealth outcomes are comparable to those of traditional health care with the advantages of having better accessibility for difficult-to-reach populations such as forcibly displaced migrants and reducing healthcare associated costs. More prospective studies implementing telemedicine strategies to treat cardiometabolic disease burden in migrant populations are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramfis Nieto-Martínez
- Precision Care Clinic Corp., Saint Cloud, FL, USA.
- Departments of Global Health and Population and Epidemiology, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
- Foundation for Clinic, Public Health, and Epidemiology Research of Venezuela (FISPEVEN INC), Caracas, Venezuela.
| | - Diana De Oliveira-Gomes
- Foundation for Clinic, Public Health, and Epidemiology Research of Venezuela (FISPEVEN INC), Caracas, Venezuela
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Juan P Gonzalez-Rivas
- Departments of Global Health and Population and Epidemiology, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Foundation for Clinic, Public Health, and Epidemiology Research of Venezuela (FISPEVEN INC), Caracas, Venezuela
- International Clinical Research Centre (ICRC), St Anne's University Hospital Brno (FNUSA), Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tala Al-Rousan
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey I Mechanick
- The Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Center for Clinical Cardiovascular Health at Mount Sinai Heart, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Goodarz Danaei
- Departments of Global Health and Population and Epidemiology, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Ashley C, Williams A, Dennis S, McInnes S, Zwar NA, Morgan M, Halcomb E. Telehealth's future in Australian primary health care: a qualitative study exploring lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic. BJGP Open 2023:BJGPO.2022.0117. [PMID: 36750374 DOI: 10.3399/bjgpo.2022.0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth emerged as a means of safely providing primary healthcare (PHC) consultations. In Australia, changes to telehealth funding led to the reconsideration of the role of telehealth in the ongoing provision of PHC services. AIM To investigate GPs', registered nurses' (RNs), nurse practitioners' (NPs), and allied health (AH) clinicians perceptions of the sustainability of telehealth in PHC post-pandemic. DESIGN & SETTING Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 33 purposively selected clinicians, including GPs (n = 13), RNs (n = 5), NPs (n = 9), and AH clinicians (n = 6) working in PHC settings across Australia. Participants were drawn from responders to a national survey of PHC providers (n = 217). METHOD The thematic analysis approach reported by Braun and Clarke was used to analyse the interview data. RESULTS Data analysis revealed that the perception of providers was represented by the following two themes: lessons learnt; and the sustainability of telehealth. Lessons learnt included the need for rapid adaptation to telehealth, use of technology, and the pandemic being a catalyst for long-term change. The sustainability of telehealth in PHC comprised four subthemes around challenges: the funding model, maintaining patient and provider safety, hybrid service models, and access to support. CONCLUSION Providers required resilience and flexibility to adapt to telehealth. Funding models must reward providers from an outcome focus, rather than placing limits on telehealth's use. Hybrid approaches to service delivery will best meet the needs of the community but must be accompanied by support and education for PHC professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Ashley
- School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Anna Williams
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sarah Dennis
- Sydney School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Susan McInnes
- School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Zwar
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia
| | - Mark Morgan
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Halcomb
- School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
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Telehealth and primary care: a special collection from BJGP Open. BJGP Open 2022; 6:BJGPO.2022.0120. [PMID: 36028300 PMCID: PMC9904778 DOI: 10.3399/bjgpo.2022.0120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
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