Presentation
DH13 - Parental Perceptions of Pediatric Telemedicine: A Mixed-Methods Study on Usefulness, Trust, and Regional Differences
SessionPoster Session 2
DescriptionBackground:
Healthcare services are fundamentally transforming due to significant technological advancements in the digital era. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the use of online medical services, particularly telemedicine. Telemedicine provides health services online at all stages, including the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases, without the need for a physical meeting. Online medical services allow overcoming geographical and logistical challenges and enable continuous and accessible patient monitoring, guidance, and direction. One of the central trends in expanding online medical services is the provision of remote medical consultation via video calls, a tool that offers an accessible and convenient solution for treating and diagnosing various medical problems. However, there are concerns regarding the reliability of the diagnosis and usability of this service. Barriers and limitations include patients' lack of trust in the quality of online video medical consultation, communication difficulties, technological literacy, and challenges for doctors due to the inability to perform a complete physical examination of the patient. These challenges receive unique emphasis in pediatric medicine, as telemedicine in pediatrics is more complex due to parenrs concerns.
The current study aimed to examine parents' perceptions and attitudes regarding video consultation services with pediatricians and to identify the advantages and disadvantages of these services to improve the platform and quality of remote medical services provided to children.
Methods:
We conducted a mixed-methods study, including a quantitative survey and two focus groups. The survey, based on the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire, was distribued on April 2024 and assessed the usefulness, user experience, and satisfaction of an online video consultations tool among a convenience sample of 96 parents, of them 27% of the participants had previously used online video calls with their regular pediatricians. Participants who had never used online video calls with their pediatricians were asked to assess the expected usefulness, user experience, and satisfaction with the option of using online video calls with their pediatricians. Data analysis was performed using nonparametric tests. Following the survey, two focus groups were conducted with 17 parents. The first focus group included parents living in the central area of Israel, and the second one included parents living in the southern periphery of Israel. The focus groups discussed the needs, expectations, and concerns related to telemedicine via online video calls with a pediatrician.
Main findings:
The analysis of the survey data revealed that usefulness was rated higher among parents with higher education (U=28, P<0.05) and fewer children (U=94, P<0.05). Additionally, parents living in the center of the country reported better user experience and interaction than parents living in the periphery. Nevertheless, parents living in the periphery, characterized by common unstable security situations, emphasized the importance of having the opportunity to consult with pediatricians via online video calls and reported better expected usefulness of the tool (U=64, P<0.05). Accessibility to medical services and previous use of digital health tools were also found to affect parents' perceptions of the usefulness and user experience of the interaction with the pediatrician using an online video call.
The focus groups revealed several main themes: Parents shared their perception that children preferred being examined at home rather than in a doctor's clinic, citing greater comfort and reduced stress. In addition, parents expressed concerns regarding the quality and accuracy of remote diagnosis, feeling that this tool is not sufficiently reliable. Focus group participants expressed concerns regarding the doctor's attitude and ability to express empathy toward the patient while using a technological system such as an online video call. Finally, differences were found in parents' perceptions regarding the tool's usability in crises, such as war or pandemics. Parents living in the southern periphery of Israel expressed the advantages of using the online video call system with doctors during war significantly more than parents living in the country's center.
Key takeaways:
Telemedicine's value during emergencies highlights the need for expanded use in regions prone to crises.
There is a need for additional training for doctors to improve the perceived reliability of video consultation.
Advanced technological tools can increase parents' trust in remote diagnosis.
Telemedicine should complement, not replace, in-person visits, when necessary.
The video platform design should be child-friendly and accessible.
Conclusions:
This study emphasized the importance of online video consultation services with pediatricians as complementary to existing health services. While parents appreciate the benefits of telemedicine for pediatric care, trust issues remain, particularly regarding remote diagnoses. It emphasizes the importance of improving these services to increase their adoption and effectiveness, particularly by addressing parents' concerns and adapting the technology to better suit children's needs.
Main Learning Objectives:
This study aims to achieve the following key learning objectives, offering actionable insights for healthcare providers, policymakers, and telemedicine developers:
Understanding Parental Perceptions and Attitudes:
Gain a deeper understanding of parental perceptions and attitudes toward the usability, reliability, and satisfaction associated with video consultations with pediatricians. Healthcare providers can use this information to refine their approach to virtual consultations, tailoring communication and interaction to meet parental concerns and increase trust in remote diagnoses.
Identifying Advantages and Disadvantages Across Regions:
Identify the advantages and disadvantages of telemedicine services in pediatric healthcare, with a particular focus on geographic and socioeconomic disparities. Policymakers and healthcare organizations can develop targeted strategies to improve access to telemedicine in underserved areas, addressing regional needs such as infrastructure improvements and reliable internet access.
Enhancing Telemedicine Platforms for Pediatric Use: Based on parental feedback, improve telemedicine platforms by designing user-friendly interfaces that cater to children's needs. This includes integrating interactive features or visuals that engage young patients, making remote consultations more effective and child-friendly. Developers should prioritize accessibility and ease of use, ensuring that platforms can accommodate varying levels of technological literacy among parents.
Physician Training for Virtual Care: Highlight the need for specialized training for healthcare providers to enhance empathy and communication skills during virtual consultations. Training programs should be developed to help physicians establish rapport with patients and parents in a virtual setting, mitigating concerns about the lack of personal interaction or care quality during video consultations.
Leveraging Telemedicine During Crises:
Explore the role of telemedicine as a critical healthcare tool during crises, such as pandemics or regional conflicts. Policymakers should consider expanding telemedicine infrastructure in conflict-prone or remote regions to ensure continuous healthcare delivery during emergencies. This could involve developing crisis-specific protocols for telemedicine use, ensuring preparedness for future events.
Healthcare services are fundamentally transforming due to significant technological advancements in the digital era. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the use of online medical services, particularly telemedicine. Telemedicine provides health services online at all stages, including the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases, without the need for a physical meeting. Online medical services allow overcoming geographical and logistical challenges and enable continuous and accessible patient monitoring, guidance, and direction. One of the central trends in expanding online medical services is the provision of remote medical consultation via video calls, a tool that offers an accessible and convenient solution for treating and diagnosing various medical problems. However, there are concerns regarding the reliability of the diagnosis and usability of this service. Barriers and limitations include patients' lack of trust in the quality of online video medical consultation, communication difficulties, technological literacy, and challenges for doctors due to the inability to perform a complete physical examination of the patient. These challenges receive unique emphasis in pediatric medicine, as telemedicine in pediatrics is more complex due to parenrs concerns.
The current study aimed to examine parents' perceptions and attitudes regarding video consultation services with pediatricians and to identify the advantages and disadvantages of these services to improve the platform and quality of remote medical services provided to children.
Methods:
We conducted a mixed-methods study, including a quantitative survey and two focus groups. The survey, based on the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire, was distribued on April 2024 and assessed the usefulness, user experience, and satisfaction of an online video consultations tool among a convenience sample of 96 parents, of them 27% of the participants had previously used online video calls with their regular pediatricians. Participants who had never used online video calls with their pediatricians were asked to assess the expected usefulness, user experience, and satisfaction with the option of using online video calls with their pediatricians. Data analysis was performed using nonparametric tests. Following the survey, two focus groups were conducted with 17 parents. The first focus group included parents living in the central area of Israel, and the second one included parents living in the southern periphery of Israel. The focus groups discussed the needs, expectations, and concerns related to telemedicine via online video calls with a pediatrician.
Main findings:
The analysis of the survey data revealed that usefulness was rated higher among parents with higher education (U=28, P<0.05) and fewer children (U=94, P<0.05). Additionally, parents living in the center of the country reported better user experience and interaction than parents living in the periphery. Nevertheless, parents living in the periphery, characterized by common unstable security situations, emphasized the importance of having the opportunity to consult with pediatricians via online video calls and reported better expected usefulness of the tool (U=64, P<0.05). Accessibility to medical services and previous use of digital health tools were also found to affect parents' perceptions of the usefulness and user experience of the interaction with the pediatrician using an online video call.
The focus groups revealed several main themes: Parents shared their perception that children preferred being examined at home rather than in a doctor's clinic, citing greater comfort and reduced stress. In addition, parents expressed concerns regarding the quality and accuracy of remote diagnosis, feeling that this tool is not sufficiently reliable. Focus group participants expressed concerns regarding the doctor's attitude and ability to express empathy toward the patient while using a technological system such as an online video call. Finally, differences were found in parents' perceptions regarding the tool's usability in crises, such as war or pandemics. Parents living in the southern periphery of Israel expressed the advantages of using the online video call system with doctors during war significantly more than parents living in the country's center.
Key takeaways:
Telemedicine's value during emergencies highlights the need for expanded use in regions prone to crises.
There is a need for additional training for doctors to improve the perceived reliability of video consultation.
Advanced technological tools can increase parents' trust in remote diagnosis.
Telemedicine should complement, not replace, in-person visits, when necessary.
The video platform design should be child-friendly and accessible.
Conclusions:
This study emphasized the importance of online video consultation services with pediatricians as complementary to existing health services. While parents appreciate the benefits of telemedicine for pediatric care, trust issues remain, particularly regarding remote diagnoses. It emphasizes the importance of improving these services to increase their adoption and effectiveness, particularly by addressing parents' concerns and adapting the technology to better suit children's needs.
Main Learning Objectives:
This study aims to achieve the following key learning objectives, offering actionable insights for healthcare providers, policymakers, and telemedicine developers:
Understanding Parental Perceptions and Attitudes:
Gain a deeper understanding of parental perceptions and attitudes toward the usability, reliability, and satisfaction associated with video consultations with pediatricians. Healthcare providers can use this information to refine their approach to virtual consultations, tailoring communication and interaction to meet parental concerns and increase trust in remote diagnoses.
Identifying Advantages and Disadvantages Across Regions:
Identify the advantages and disadvantages of telemedicine services in pediatric healthcare, with a particular focus on geographic and socioeconomic disparities. Policymakers and healthcare organizations can develop targeted strategies to improve access to telemedicine in underserved areas, addressing regional needs such as infrastructure improvements and reliable internet access.
Enhancing Telemedicine Platforms for Pediatric Use: Based on parental feedback, improve telemedicine platforms by designing user-friendly interfaces that cater to children's needs. This includes integrating interactive features or visuals that engage young patients, making remote consultations more effective and child-friendly. Developers should prioritize accessibility and ease of use, ensuring that platforms can accommodate varying levels of technological literacy among parents.
Physician Training for Virtual Care: Highlight the need for specialized training for healthcare providers to enhance empathy and communication skills during virtual consultations. Training programs should be developed to help physicians establish rapport with patients and parents in a virtual setting, mitigating concerns about the lack of personal interaction or care quality during video consultations.
Leveraging Telemedicine During Crises:
Explore the role of telemedicine as a critical healthcare tool during crises, such as pandemics or regional conflicts. Policymakers should consider expanding telemedicine infrastructure in conflict-prone or remote regions to ensure continuous healthcare delivery during emergencies. This could involve developing crisis-specific protocols for telemedicine use, ensuring preparedness for future events.
Event Type
Poster Presentation
TimeTuesday, April 14:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
LocationFrontenac Foyer