Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to evaluate patients' opinions on a fetal cardiology telemedicine service compared with usual outpatient care, the effect of the telemedicine consultation on maternal anxiety and its impact on travel times and time absent from work.
METHODS: Prospective study over 20 months. Eligible patients attended for routine anomaly scan followed by fetal echocardiogram transmitted to the regional centre with live guidance by a fetal cardiologist, followed by parental counselling. All patients were offered a fetal cardiology appointment at the regional centre. Structured questionnaires assessing maternal satisfaction, travel times/days off and anxiety scores completed at time of both fetal echocardiograms.
RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were recruited and 66 completed the study. Participants expressed very high satisfaction rates with fetal telecardiology, equivalent to face-to-face consultation. The telecardiology appointments were associated with significantly reduced travel times and days off work (p < 0.01). Expectant mothers expressed a clear inclination for a fetal cardiology appointment at the local hospital facilitated by telemedicine (p < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Fetal telecardiology is highly acceptable to patients and is even preferred compared with travelling to a regional centre. There are additional socio-economic benefits that should encourage the development of remote fetal cardiology services.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 883-7 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Prenatal Diagnosis |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 9 |
Early online date | 21 Jun 2012 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 1 Sept 2012 |
Bibliographical note
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Ambulatory Care/psychology
- Anxiety/epidemiology
- Cardiology Service, Hospital/organization & administration
- Echocardiography/economics
- Female
- Fetal Diseases/diagnosis
- Heart Diseases/congenital
- Humans
- Patient Preference/economics
- Patient Satisfaction/statistics & numerical data
- Perinatology/methods
- Pregnancy
- Prenatal Diagnosis/economics
- Referral and Consultation/organization & administration
- Socioeconomic Factors
- Telemedicine/economics
- Young Adult