title: Patient satisfaction with video teleconsultation in a virtual diabetes outreach clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the level of patient satisfaction with diabetes remote consultations via videoconferencing in a virtual outreach clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional observational survey was conducted of people with diabetes who were living in regional cities of Queensland, Australia, and remotely consulted by endocrinologists at the Princess Alexandra Hospital tele-endocrinology clinic in Brisbane during autumn 2013. A questionnaire with 15 multiple-choice questions and one open-ended question was developed for assessing patient satisfaction with videoconferencing for specialty consultation. The questionnaire items showed strong internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.90). Patient satisfaction was assessed by this 16-item questionnaire exploring four dimensions: equipment/technical issues; communication and rapport; clinical assessment; and program evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 62 questionnaires were mailed to the patients, with 24 (39%) surveys completed and returned. The quality of video had the highest satisfaction rate (100%). The lowest satisfaction scores were reported in the "Clinical Assessment" dimension, in which 21% of respondents (five of 24) were concerned that the lack of physical contact could be a problem for managing their diabetes. The patients did not report any problem with building rapport with their consultant over the videoconference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients with diabetes who were seen remotely by endocrinologists via videoconferencing were generally satisfied with remote consultation. The questionnaire developed specifically for diabetes video teleconsultation in this study is useful for the measurement of patient satisfaction, and a modified version may be used in other clinical specialties.
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Online Health, The University of Queensland , Brisbane, Queensland, Australia .
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fatehi
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin-Khan
authors.forename: Anthony C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Anthony W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Leonard C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D004704:Endocrinology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011793:Queensland; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D049269:Videoconferencing