Follow-up data for patients managed by store and forward telemedicine in developing countries.
There is very little published information about the outcomes of patients treated by telemedicine in developing countries. Over a two-year period, seven medical students from five universities spent their electives at a hospital in Papua New Guinea. They assisted with the review of a total of 44 e-referrals made by local doctors; the referrals resulted in 61 queries in a wide range of specialties. The major categories of these queries were internal medicine, paediatrics and surgery. Follow-up data were obtained in 22 of the 44 cases (50%) after a median period of 13 weeks (interquartile range 3-19). The cases were reviewed by an independent doctor. Telemedicine was considered to have assisted with the diagnosis in all cases (median score 5 on a five-point scale from 1 = not helpful at all to 5 = very good/excellent). The advice to the referring doctor for further action was considered helpful in all except one case (median score 5 on the same scale). The outcome for the patient was considered to be good in 15 of the cases (median score 4 on the same scale). Medical students were able to facilitate e-referrals by relieving the pressure on the local doctor to undertake the necessary clerical and technical work. The students reported a rewarding elective experience. The follow-up data showed that low-cost telemedicine can provide useful advice in a low resource setting.
Wootton
Richard
R
JTA International, 46 Edward Street, Brisbane 4000, Australia.
Menzies
John
J
Ferguson
Paula
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult