Patient Preferences Regarding Telemedicine to In-person Consultation: A Questionnaire-Based Survey

INTRODUCTION

Telemedicine has been evolving over the last two decades; however, with the advent of the COVID 19 pandemic, its utility and acceptance have drastically increased. Most studies report increasing acceptability and satisfaction rates. This study aimed to assess patient preferences regarding telemedicine to in-person consultations and to attempt to assess the factors driving these preferences.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted for patients who had both teleconsultation and in-person consultation in the orthopedic outpatient. After obtaining consent to participate in the study, the patients were divided into broad clinical categories and responses were recorded regarding the treatment of illness by the doctor and opinions regarding telemedicine. Most questions were in yes/no or a Likert-based questionnaire. Mean, median, percentage and proportions were used for statistical analysis of the data.

RESULTS

The study group included 264 patients, with the majority with fractures and dislocations. Most patients (55.7%) were comfortable using the software for teleconsultation, and half the respondents found telemedicine convenient. A large percentage of the study group preferred in-person consultation to teleconsultation (58.7%), and the primary reasons for discontinuing teleconsultation were dissatisfaction during the interaction with the doctor and poor connectivity to telecommunication networks.

CONCLUSION

Telecommunication has high acceptance and satisfaction, but many factors limit its acceptance in developing countries.

Dogs with leishmaniosis: how are we managing proteinuria in daily practice? A Portuguese questionnaire-based study

Background

Proteinuria is a common finding in dogs with leishmaniosis. Although antileishmanial therapeutic protocols are widely implemented, little information is available on which treatments are most adequate for identifying proteinuria in patients with canine leishmaniosis (CanL), especially regarding the use of immunosuppressants. The aim of this study was to explore the current paradigm regarding the antiproteinuric approach adopted by veterinary practitioners in Portugal to treat dogs with CanL.

Methods

A questionnaire-based study was developed using Google Forms®. The questionnaire presented a number of different hypothetical scenarios of CanL, and the topics surveyed included the general features of the respondents and the protocols preferred by these respondents to manage proteinuria in the presented scenarios, including choice of therapeutic drugs, appropriate diet and use of immunosuppressants, in dogs with immune-mediated glomerulonephritis. The questionnaire was internally prevalidated and diffused online over a 2-month period through Portuguese veterinary social networking groups, and data were collected for descriptive analysis.

Results

A total of 86 veterinary practitioners responded to the survey. When exposed to theoretical scenarios of proteinuria in dogs with CanL at stages IIb, III and IV (LeishVet guidelines), 16.3%, 62.8% and 93.8% of the respondents, respectively, answered that they would treat it. The dog was started on a renal diet as therapy by 28.6%, 83.3% and 97.4% of respondents, respectively. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) were prescribed by 100%, 85.2% and 78.9% of respondents as first-choice drugs for CanL at stages IIb, III and IV, respectively, with ACEI used in monotherapy by 64.3%, 40.7% and 46.1%. In comparison, protocols using ACEI in combination with other compounds were chosen by 7.1%, 33.3% and 39.5% of respondents, and combination therapy which did not include ACEI was the choice of 0.0%, 12.9% and 14.5%. Regarding immunosuppressants, 44.2% of the respondents answered they would prescribe them, with 97.4% electing for prednisolone and 5.3% choosing mycophenolate mofetil.

Conclusions

Among the veterinary practitioners who responded, proteinuria treatment was considered since stage IIb CanL, although implementation of a therapeutic approach was more evident in advanced CanL stages. ACEI were the first-choice drugs, particularly for the treatment of stage IIb CanL; in advanced stages, a combination of antiproteinuric drugs was more often used. Immunosuppressant use was controversial, although when applied, prednisolone was the preferred choice. These findings reinforce the small body of evidence that supports the use of such drugs and the need to further explore their role in CanL.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05222-w.

Perceptions from nurses, surgeons, and anesthetists about the use and benefits of the surgical checklist in a teaching hospital

OBJECTIVE

To assess attitudes and perceptions from nursing staff, surgeons and anesthetists about compliance, utility, and impact on patient's safety of the surgical checklist in a teaching hospital. We also aimed to identify improvement opportunities for strengthening the usefulness of the checklist in the operating theater.

METHODS

We carried out a questionnaire-based an observational cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was distributed to operating room staff, including nursing staff, surgeons, and anesthetists. In addition to the information about surgical checklist, We also collected information regarding years of experience in the operating theater. Fisher's exact was used to compare proportions in each statement. Group discussion meetings with key professionals were held to jointly assess the results, propose improvement actions, and evaluate their feasibility.

RESULTS

The overall response rate was 36.2% (131/362). Nursing staff was perceived as the most supportive group in the use of surgical checklist. A 64.3% of surgeons considered that using the checklist prevented adverse events vs 84.2% and 85.7% among anesthetists and nurses, respectively; p=0.028. Junior staff showed a supportive attitude toward the use of surgical checklist, considering it as a tool that gives them confidence. We ended up with a list of improvement actions aiming at strengthening the surgical checklist reliability and compliance.

CONCLUSIONS

The perception of the surgical checklist usefulness as a tool to prevent adverse events was moderate among surgeons, but well appreciated by junior staff. Nursing staff were especially critical regarding compliance and support by other professionals. To reinforce the usefulness perception of the surgical checklist it is needed to increase the involvement of all professionals, especially senior staff and surgical leaders.

Lower urinary tract symptoms in adolescent girls: a questionnaire-based study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in female adolescent population.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a questionnaire-based study in nine randomly selected high schools in our country. Our primary aim was to evaluate the prevalence of certain LUTS in adolescent girls: frequency, urgency, nocturia, feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, dysuria, and urinary incontinence. The secondary aim was to investigate the effect of some possible risk factors on LUTS prevalence. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics Programme. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Non-parametric test was used for comparison of numerical and Pearson's Chi-square test for categorical data. Logistic regression was performed to identify the independent prognosticators for LUTS presence. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

We included 2745 adolescent girls. Their average age was 16.8 ± 1.2 years and 17.8 % of them regularly experienced at least one LUTS. The frequency of occasional LUTS was even higher. The most common symptom was urinary incontinence (5.9 %), followed by frequency (5.1 %), feeling of incomplete bladder emptying (4.8 %), urgency (3.1 %), and nocturia (2.6 %). Risk factors for LUTS presence were girls' school success, frequent pelvic pain, previous cystitis, history of night enuresis in childhood, and sexual intercourses in the last three months.

CONCLUSIONS

According to our results, the prevalence of LUTS amongst female adolescents is high and can be associated with certain risk factors. In our opinion, further research should be directed into determining the effect of LUTS on adolescents' quality of life.

Assessment of Palliative Care Awareness among Undergraduate Healthcare Students

Introduction

Palliative care knowledge is being given meager importance in the curriculum of medical and other allied medical sciences. It is vital that all health care practitioners including medical, pharmacy, physiotherapy and nursing are aware and apply the best principles of palliative care.

Aim

To assess the awareness of palliative care among undergraduate students of medical, nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy.

Materials and Methods

The study population included total of 200 students. Among 200 students, 50 were from each of the colleges of medicine, nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy. After obtaining informed consent, questionnaire was given. The questionnaire contained the sociodemographic profile and 35 statements under nine groups, for which the respondents were expected to answer one out of the three options (Yes, No, Don't know). The groups of statements deal with palliative care definition, its philosophy, communication issues, non-pain symptoms, medications use and context of application of palliative care.

Results

It was found that less than 20% of nursing students were unaware of palliative care. Among the undergraduates of college of pharmacy, more than 50% had no knowledge of palliative care. More than 80% of physiotherapy, nursing and medical students agree that death should occur without any pain or symptoms. The need of palliative care was well understood by more than 70% of students of physiotherapy, pharmacy, nursing and medical colleges.

Conclusion

Basic knowledge about palliative care was inadequate among the undergraduate students related to healthcare.