Changing perception of pediatric out-patient consultations.

COVID-19 has affected everyone worldwide. Health services across the globe have been under enormous strain since SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Primary and secondary care have made adaptations to sustain the delivery of healthcare for their catchment population. One of the numerous alterations is the provision of remote digital consultation clinics. Objective: We assessed children and parents' perception of remote consultations before and during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In 2018, 100 anonymised questionnaire was distributed among patients/parents in the face to face out-patient clinic setting (survey 1). A similar survey (survey 2) of one hundred parents and young persons was carried out in July 2020 during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the face to face out-patient clinic setting. Results: Compared to initial survey (2018), greater number of respondents were in favor of remote consultation in the second survey (2020), supporting the use of remote consultations for both the new referrals as well as the follow ups. Conclusion: There are advantages and limitations of remote digital consultations especially in the pediatric practice. Further research is needed to explore its medium and long-term risks and benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]