Principles of a paediatric palliative care consultation can be achieved with home telemedicine.
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Date
2014-11-17
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Abstract
We compared the records of paediatric palliative consultations undertaken face to face with telemedicine consultations undertaken in patients homes A convenience sample of consecutive paediatric palliative care patients was identified from the hospital s palliative care database A total of 100 consultations was reviewed 50 telemedicine consultations during home visits and 50 face to face consultations according to 14 established principles and components of a paediatric palliative care consultation In the telemedicine group there was a higher proportion of patients in a stable condition 58 vs 7 and a lower proportion of patients in terminal phase 2 vs 17 Discussion about pain and anorexia were significantly more common in the telemedicine group Discussion about follow up was significantly more common in the telemedicine group 86 vs 56 whilst resuscitation planning was more common in deteriorating patients receiving inpatient care All other components and principles of a palliative care consultation were documented equally regardless of method of consultation The findings confirm that palliative consultations via telemedicine are just as effective as face to face consultations in terms of the documented components of the consultation