Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of acute hospital admissions. The main object of our study was to evaluate the effects of telemedicine video-consultation (TVC) on the frequency of hospital re-admissions due to COPD exacerbations. Our secondary aim was to assess the impact of TVC on the length of re-admission stays within 6 and 12 months follow up after TVC. Patient satisfaction was also evaluated.

Methods: The study was a retrospective observational study of COPD patients who after hospital discharge or during outpatient treatment for acute COPD exacerbations, were monitored for 2 weeks by TVC at home by a specialist nurse at the hospital during a pilot project period. Retrospectively, we compared the frequencies (chi-square test) and durations of hospital re-admissions (paired t-test) due to COPD exacerbations within 6 and 12 months follow up after TVC to comparable events 6 and 12 months prior to TVC.

Results: Among 99 patients followed for 6 months after TVC, 56 were followed for totally 12 months. The number of patients re-admitted and the number of re-admissions due to COPD exacerbations were not reduced within 6 or 12 months post-TVC, as compared to 6 and 12 months pre-TVC.The mean length of re-admission stays within 12 months post-TVC was markedly reduced as compared to pre-TVC. Patients hospitalised the last 6 and 12 months pre-TVC, had significantly shorter re-admission stays, p = 0.033 and p = 0.001, respectively. Patient satisfaction was high.

Conclusion: Despite the failure to demonstrate reduced frequency of re-admissions within 6 and 12 months post-TVC, the re-admission length within 12 months post-TVC was markedly reduced as compared to pre-TVC. The patient satisfaction was high. Future prospective, randomised, controlled trials must be performed before TVC can be recommended in COPD management.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3912479PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2049-6958-9-6DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

patient satisfaction
16
copd exacerbations
16
months post-tvc
16
re-admission stays
12
months
11
chronic obstructive
8
obstructive pulmonary
8
pulmonary disease
8
hospital re-admissions
8
re-admissions copd
8

Similar Publications

Introduction: The aim of the observational SIMPLE study was to assess real-life effectiveness and safety of a single-pill combination (SPC) of perindopril arginine/amlodipine in a broad range of subjects with newly diagnosed mild-to-moderate hypertension treated in Canadian general practice.

Methods: Treatment-naïve participants aged 18-65 years with mild-to-moderate hypertension, whose physicians decided to initiate the perindopril/amlodipine SPC, were recruited from Canadian clinical practice from October 2017 to February 2019. Participants were followed at 3- (M3) and 6-month (M6) visits after treatment initiation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: With the increasing demand for dialysis, there is a growing emphasis on patient-centered care. This study investigated patients' satisfaction levels with peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) care in Iran.

Methods: A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted among 346 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) covered by the Iran Health Insurance Organization who received dialysis services from October to December 2022 across the country.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of Relatox, botulinum toxin type A in patients with focal spasticity (FS) of the upper limb as a result of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Material And Methods: A multicenter, prospective, single-blinded, randomized, comparative clinical study included 210 patients of both sexes aged 18-75 years after moderate to severe TBI and CVA in seven sites in the Russian Federation. The patients were randomized into two groups.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To study the quality of life (QoL) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the Smolensk region who receive MS disease-modifying therapies (DMT).

Material And Methods: The study included 37 patients receiving MS DMT. The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the Multiple sclerosis Quality of Life (MusiQol), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, a scale of satisfaction with treatment, the Fatigue Severity Scale were administered.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Context: Student-run health clinics (SRHC) are commonly utilized to provide clinical experiences to students in healthcare education programs as well as healthcare services to a target community. Recent reports on athletic training SRHCs (AT-SRHCs) with a client population of university students, employees and/or community members have reported positive patient outcomes and high patient satisfaction, however there is limited data about the treated conditions, services and value provided by AT-SRHC.

Objective: To track utilization of athletic training services at a free AT-SRHC.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!