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DOI: 10.1055/a-2543-3179
Telemedicine in paediatrics: acceptance and satisfaction from parents' perspective
Article in several languages: English | deutschAuthors
Abstract
Background
The telemedical networking of children’s clinics of varying sizes and specializations can support healthcare close to home, especially in rural regions with structural limitations. A Regional Tele-Paediatric Network was implemented in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and North Brandenburg (innovation fund project RTP-Net). This study examines the question of how participating parents accepted and evaluated this form of care.
Method
Parents of paediatric patients at a participating clinic were invited to take part in the study during the observation period 02.2021 to 03.2023 study. A mixed-methods approach was used that comprised a standardized questionnaire. The interviews were transcribed, categorized according to Kuckartz and subjected to descriptive evaluation. Between 12.2023 to 02.2024, telephone interviews were conducted with parents who had agreed to be recontacted.
Results
A total of 507 cases (403 patients) were included in the RTP-Net. Data from 138 questionnaires were analyzed. 74.5% of parents found that the use of telemedicine was helpful for the treatment of their child; 88.1% could imagine that telemedicine could supplement paediatric healthcare in the future. Parents interviewed over the telephone (n=11) rated telemedicine services positively. The main advantages mentioned were saving in time and distance, availability of specialist expertise and avoidance of long waiting times. There were concerns about the lack of physical contact between telemedicine doctor and patient.
Conclusion
Parents show a high level of acceptance of telemedicine and trust in the provision of telemedical services. Telemedicine can help parents to avoid the burden of long journeys and waiting times and improve access to specialist medical expertise. In order to improve the acceptance and satisfaction of parents, it is important to inform them about the results if the telemedical advice was based on a doctor-to-doctor consultation.
Publication History
Received: 30 August 2024
Accepted: 13 December 2024
Article published online:
19 May 2025
© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany
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