1. Open-care telemedicine in ophthalmology during the COVID-19 pandemic: a pilot study.
- Author
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Arntz A, Khaliliyeh D, Cruzat A, Rao X, Rocha G, Grau A, Altschwager P, and Azócar V
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Child, Child, Preschool, Eye Diseases diagnosis, Eye Diseases drug therapy, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Middle Aged, Ophthalmology standards, Ophthalmology trends, Patient Satisfaction, Pilot Projects, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Referral and Consultation statistics & numerical data, Surveys and Questionnaires, Telemedicine standards, Telemedicine trends, Time Factors, Young Adult, COVID-19 epidemiology, Ophthalmology statistics & numerical data, Pandemics, Quarantine, SARS-CoV-2, Telemedicine statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Background: To report a pilot experience of telemedicine in ophthalmology in open-care modality (i.e. direct video call), in a confinement period due to the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: Descriptive study of the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients attended in a 10-week confinement period. Reported satisfaction of the participating patients and doctors was evaluated through an online survey., Results: In the 10-week period, 291 ophthalmologic telemedicine consultations were performed. The main reasons for consultation were inflammatory conditions of the ocular surface and eyelids (79.4%), followed by administrative requirements (6.5%), non-inflammatory conditions of the ocular surface (5.2%), strabismus suspicion (3.4%) and vitreo-retinal symptoms (3.1%). According to previously defined criteria, 22 patients (7.5%) were referred to immediate face-to-face consultation. The level of satisfaction was high, both in doctors (100%) and in patients (93.4%)., Conclusions: Open-care modality of telemedicine in ophthalmology during the pandemic period is a useful instrument to filter potential face-to-face consultations, either elective or emergency, and potentially reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection., (Copyright © 2020 Sociedad Española de Oftalmología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2020
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