Virtual consultations: are we missing anything?

Background: This review aimed to map initiatives for measuring the satisfaction of vulnerable populations with teleconsultation services offered by public and private health care providers in their territories, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Systematic studies on the opinions of people most affected by health inequities are limited. Therefore, we included evaluations of teleconsultation-based services offered to socioeconomically disadvantaged and clinically vulnerable populations globally, with a focus on surveillance, treatment, and prevention of COVID-19. Materials and Methods: This review includes analytical and descriptive observational studies primarily from MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases, published after the World Health Organization received the first warnings about COVID-19 from Chinese authorities in December, 2019, until December 2020. The search strategy combined aspects of COVID-19, telemedicine, patient satisfaction, and key concepts of vulnerable populations. Results:We selected 33 studies for full-text reading and 10 for critical appraisal. Two categories emerged from the qualitative analysis: telehealth evaluation and services during COVID-19, and opinions of vulnerable populations. Television and social networks play a crucial role in providing information. Although teleconsultations are practical and cost effective for patients, the majority preferred receiving inperson treatment in primary care clinics. Conclusions: Listening to the opinions of vulnerable groups and their caregivers is critical both before and during adoption of COVID-19 control measures. Health managers need to monitor the health of and delivery of services to socioeconomically and clinically vulnerable people closely, to improve services, and provide care from a human rights perspective.

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“…1 ). Detailed reasons for excluding studies 24 , 25 from full-text screenings are in the Supplementary Appendices SA1 and SA2 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 Remote Consultation Services and Population in Health Inequity-Concentrating Territories: A Scoping Review

Silva

Síndico

Carneiro³

et al. 2021

Telemedicine and e-Health

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“…Health commissioners must ensure that care teams across the UK are adequately equipped and trained to ensure equal access to remote consultations. A practitioner’s familiarity with it is also key for its success, and previous work emphasises the importance of helping diabetes care teams recognise emotional distress in remote consultations[9].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring support needs of people living with diabetes during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic: insights from a UK survey.

Sauchelli

Bradley

England

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has radically compromised healthcare for people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes. Government-imposed restrictions to contain the spread of the virus has forced people to suddenly adjust their lifestyle. This study aimed to capture the impact of the pandemic on people living with diabetes and the views of these individuals on ways in which the information, advice and support they are receiving could be improved. Research design and methods An online anonymous survey was distributed across the UK during the first lockdown and initial easing. The survey comprised questions about confidence in diabetes self-management, resources used to obtain information, advice and support, and opinions on how these could be improved. Open-ended captured subjective experiences. Results The survey was completed by 773 adults living with diabetes (69.2% type 1, 28.5% type 2). There was notable variability in the impact of the pandemic on confidence in self-management, with confidence having deteriorated most commonly in the ability to take care of own mental wellbeing (37.0% respondents) and improved most commonly in maintaining a healthy weight (21.1% respondents). 41.2% of respondents living alone reported not receiving any outside support. The quality of information, advice and support received from the healthcare team was rated poorly by 37.2%. Respondents sought greater communication and tailored advice from their care team, clear and consistent information from the government and news channels, and improved understanding of diabetes and its challenges from their personal networks and employers. Conclusion Adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic has strained the mental health and wellbeing of people living with diabetes. Diabetes care teams must receive assistance to support these individuals without risking further inequalities in access to healthcare. Equipping personal networks and employers with knowledge on diabetes and skills to support self-management may reduce the burden on the NHS.

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“…7 In addition to practical challenges in rolling out these guidelines across the NHS, the success of these changes in care delivery relied on patients' ability to adapt and engage in technology-assisted self-care, as well as practitioners' ability to interpret data from technology and their confidence in delivering care via remote consultations. [8][9][10] Given the nationally imposed restrictions and physical distancing policies, and the limited access to healthcare teams, we expected the pandemic would have a notable impact on everyday diabetes management and the mental health of people living with diabetes, their parents, carers, and partners. This study aimed to capture this impact and the views of these individuals on how to improve the information, advice and support they received during the pandemic.…”

Section: Significance Of This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring support needs of people living with diabetes during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic: insights from a UK survey

Sauchelli

Bradley

England

et al. 2021

BMJ Open Diab Res Care

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IntroductionThe coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has radically compromised healthcare for people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes. Government-imposed restrictions to contain the spread of the virus have forced people to suddenly adjust their lifestyle. This study aimed to capture the impact of the pandemic on people living with diabetes and the views of these individuals on ways in which the information, advice and support they are receiving could be improved.Research design and methodsAn online anonymous survey was distributed across the UK during the first lockdown and initial easing. The survey comprised questions about confidence in diabetes self-management, resources used to obtain information, advice and support, and opinions on how these could be improved. Open-ended questions captured subjective experiences.ResultsThe survey was completed by 773 adults with diabetes (69.2% type 1, 28.5% type 2). There was notable variability in the impact of the pandemic on confidence in self-management, with confidence having deteriorated most commonly in the ability to take care of own mental well-being (37.0% respondents) and improved most commonly in maintaining a healthy weight (21.1% respondents). 41.2% of respondents living alone reported not receiving any outside support. The quality of information, advice and support received from the healthcare team was rated poorly by 37.2%. Respondents sought greater communication and tailored advice from their care team, clear and consistent information from the government and news channels, and improved understanding of diabetes and its challenges from their personal networks and employers.ConclusionAdjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic has strained the mental health and well-being of people living with diabetes. Diabetes care teams must receive assistance to support these individuals without risking further inequalities in access to healthcare. Equipping personal networks and employers with knowledge on diabetes and skills to support self-management may reduce the burden on the National Health Service.

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Virtual consultations: are we missing anything?

Cited by 30 publications

References 9 publications

COVID-19 Remote Consultation Services and Population in Health Inequity-Concentrating Territories: A Scoping Review

COVID-19 Remote Consultation Services and Population in Health Inequity-Concentrating Territories: A Scoping Review

Exploring support needs of people living with diabetes during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic: insights from a UK survey.

Exploring support needs of people living with diabetes during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic: insights from a UK survey

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