title: The acceptability of telemedicine for podiatric intervention in a residential home for the elderly.
abstract: We investigated the use of telemedicine in the diagnosis and treatment of foot disorders. In an eight-month study, 49 residents of a local 200-bed home for the elderly, who had a potential or active foot problem, were examined via videoconferencing. They were subsequently examined on site. Their mean age was 86 years (range 67-100 years). There were 49 consultations for new cases and 50 follow-up consultations; therefore 99 teleconsultations and 99 on-site consultations were carried out. After 15% of the teleconsultations, an on-site visit was still required for full assessment of the case, as a diagnosis could not be determined. In 6% of teleconsultations there was difficulty in determining an accurate management plan. Telepodiatry was found to be satisfactory in the remaining 79% of cases and 87% of clients preferred teleconsultation to being transported to the hospital clinic. Telemedicine was found to be an acceptable method of providing some aspects of podiatry care to clients living in a residential home for the elderly. It was an excellent triage mechanism, and facilitated earlier identification of and intervention for urgent problems.
authors.affiliation: Podiatry Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, China. heidi@nguyenducson.com
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Corcoran
authors.forename: Elsie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D014741:Video Recording