Academic Journal
Utilization and safety of telemedicine for pediatric lower urinary tract symptoms before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic
| العنوان: | Utilization and safety of telemedicine for pediatric lower urinary tract symptoms before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic |
|---|---|
| المؤلفون: | Chen, Abby L., Spinzi, Stav, Agrawal, Gunjan, Kan, Kathleen M. |
| المصدر: | LUTS: Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; volume 15, issue 5, page 200-205 ; ISSN 1757-5664 1757-5672 |
| بيانات النشر: | Wiley |
| سنة النشر: | 2023 |
| المجموعة: | Wiley Online Library (Open Access Articles via Crossref) |
| الوصف: | Objectives Telemedicine for pediatric lower urinary tract symptoms (pLUTS) is a relatively new mode of delivering bladder health education with scant evidence supporting current practice. We aim to examine the safety of pLUTS‐related telemedicine visits surrounding the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of new pLUTS referral diagnoses to our institution's pediatric urology clinics. Demographics, wait times, and referral diagnoses were captured and compared before and after March 2020 using χ 2 /Fisher exact tests and t‐ tests. A retrospective chart review was performed for an initial telemedicine visit followed by an in‐person visit to identify missed radiology, lab, or physical exam findings. Results Six hundred twelve patients were included from September 2018 to August 2021. Most were 5–10 years old (62.3%), female (56.2%), English speaking (86.5%), White (39.4%), and had private insurance (67.2%). Wait times were shorter for telemedicine versus in‐person visits ( t 190 = −3.56, p < .001). After March 2020, patients with a urinary tract infection (UTI) and females utilized in‐person visits more often ( p < .001). After chart review (11 patients, mean = 10.4 years), 9 (81.8%) had comorbid conditions and/or family history of lower urinary tract symptoms. None had missed clinical findings that changed management. Conclusions pLUTS care can be delivered via telemedicine without a significant change in patient volume and population, though additional investigations will clarify the needs of patients with specific referral diagnoses and comorbid conditions. The in‐person exam can be omitted safely with proper clinical history taking, supporting future virtual programs that address delays in care within local communities. |
| نوع الوثيقة: | article in journal/newspaper |
| اللغة: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1111/luts.12496 |
| الاتاحة: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/luts.12496 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/luts.12496 |
| Rights: | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
| رقم الانضمام: | edsbas.E5589201 |
| قاعدة البيانات: | BASE |
| DOI: | 10.1111/luts.12496 |
|---|