Principles of a paediatric palliative care consultation can be achieved with home telemedicine.
We compared the records of paediatric palliative consultations undertaken face-to-face, with telemedicine consultations undertaken in patients' homes. A convenience sample of consecutive paediatric palliative care patients was identified from the hospital's palliative care database. A total of 100 consultations was reviewed (50 telemedicine consultations during home visits and 50 face-to-face consultations) according to 14 established principles and components of a paediatric palliative care consultation. In the telemedicine group there was a higher proportion of patients in a stable condition (58% vs 7%), and a lower proportion of patients in terminal phase (2% vs 17%). Discussion about pain and anorexia were significantly more common in the telemedicine group. Discussion about follow up was significantly more common in the telemedicine group (86% vs 56%), whilst resuscitation planning was more common in deteriorating patients receiving inpatient care. All other components and principles of a palliative care consultation were documented equally regardless of method of consultation. The findings confirm that palliative consultations via telemedicine are just as effective as face-to-face consultations in terms of the documented components of the consultation.
Centre for Online Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia n.bradford@uq.edu.au.
Natalie K
NK
Bradford
Centre for Online Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Nigel R
NR
Armfield
School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia.
Jeanine
J
Young
Paediatric Palliative Care Service, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Anthony
A
Herbert
Paediatric Palliative Care Service, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Christine
C
Mott
Centre for Online Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Anthony C
AC
Smith
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies