title: Cultural acceptance of robotic telestroke medicine among patients and healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia. Results of a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the degree of satisfaction and acceptance of stroke patients, their relatives, and healthcare providers toward using telestroke technology in Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2012 at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Remote Presence Robot (RPR), the RP-7i (FDA- cleared) provided by InTouch Health was used in the study. Patients and their relatives were informed that the physician would appear through a screen on top of a robotic device, as part of their clinical care. Stroke patients admitted through the emergency department, and their relatives, as well as healthcare providers completed a self-administered satisfaction questionnaire following the telestroke consultation sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty participants completed the questionnaire. Most subjects agreed that the remote consultant interview was useful and that the audiovisual component of the intervention was of high quality; 98% agreed that they did not feel shy or embarrassed during the remote interview, were able to understand the instruction of the consultant, and recommended its use in stroke management. Furthermore, 92% agreed or strongly agreed that the use of this technology can efficiently replace the physical presence of a neurologist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that the use of telestroke medicine is culturally acceptable among stroke patients and their families in Saudi Arabia and favorably received by healthcare providers.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail: khathamia@yahoo.com / khathamia@ngha.med.sa.
authors: Ali M
authors: AM
authors: Al-Khathaami
authors: Saeed M
authors: SM
authors: Alshahrani
authors: Suleiman M
authors: SM
authors: Kojan
authors: Mohammed A
authors: MA
authors: Al-Jumah
authors: Ahmed A
authors: AA
authors: Alamry
authors: Ashraf A
authors: AA
authors: El-Metwally
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012371:Robotics; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine
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