title: The use of telehealth (text messaging and video communications) in patients with cystic fibrosis: A pilot study.
abstract: Background Poor communications between cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and health-care providers may result in gaps in knowledge and misconceptions about medication usage, and can lead to poor adherence. We aimed to assess the feasibility of using WhatsApp and Skype to improve communications. Methods This single-centre pilot study included CF patients who were older than eight years of age assigned to two groups: one without intervention (control group), and one with intervention. Each patient from the intervention group received Skype-based online video chats and WhatsApp messages from members of the multidisciplinary CF team. CF questionnaires, revised (CFQ-R) scores, knowledge and adherence based on CF My Way and patients satisfaction were evaluated before and after three months. Feasibility was assessed by session attendance, acceptability and satisfaction survey. Descriptive analysis and paired and non-paired t-tests were used as applicable. Results Eighteen patients were recruited to this feasibility study (nine in each group). Each intervention group participant had between four and six Skype video chats and received 22-45 WhatsApp messages. In this small study, CFQ-R scores, knowledge, adherence and patient satisfaction were similar in both groups before and after the three-month intervention. Conclusions A telehealth-based approach, using Skype video chats and WhatsApp messages, was feasible and acceptable in this pilot study. A larger and longer multi-centre study is warranted to examine the efficacy of these interventions to improve knowledge, adherence and communication.
authors.affiliation: 1 Paediatric Pulmonary Institute and CF Centre, Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gur
authors.affiliation: 1 Paediatric Pulmonary Institute and CF Centre, Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Israel.
authors.forename: Vered
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nir
authors.affiliation: 1 Paediatric Pulmonary Institute and CF Centre, Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Israel.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teleshov
authors.affiliation: 1 Paediatric Pulmonary Institute and CF Centre, Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Israel.
authors.forename: Ronen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bar-Yoseph
authors.affiliation: 1 Paediatric Pulmonary Institute and CF Centre, Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Israel.
authors.forename: Eynav
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manor
authors.affiliation: 1 Paediatric Pulmonary Institute and CF Centre, Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Israel.
authors.forename: Gizelle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diab
authors.affiliation: 1 Paediatric Pulmonary Institute and CF Centre, Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Israel.|2 Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Israel.
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bentur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016903:Drug Monitoring
keywords: Skype; Telehealth; WhatsApp; cystic fibrosis