TY - JOUR
T1 - Electronic communication with patients evaluation of distance medicine technology
AU - Balas, E. Andrew
AU - Jaffrey, Farah
AU - Kuperman, Gilad J.
AU - Boren, Suzanne Austin
AU - Brown, Gordon D.
AU - Pinciroli, Francesco
AU - Mitchell, Joyce A.
PY - 1997/7/9
Y1 - 1997/7/9
N2 - Objective.-To evaluate controlled evidence on the efficacy of distance medicine technologies in clinical practice and health care outcome. Data Sources.-Systematic electronic database and manual searches (19661996) were conducted to identify clinical trial reports on distance medicine applications. Study Selection.-Three eligibility criteria were applied: prospective, contemporaneously controlled clinical trial with random assignment of the intervention; electronic distance technology application in the intervention group and no similar intervention in the control group; and measurement of the intervention effect on process or outcome of care. Data Extraction.-Data were abstracted by independent reviewers using a standardized abstraction form and the quality of methodology was scored. Distance technology applications were described in 6 categories: computerized communication, telephone follow-up and counseling, telephone reminders, interactive telephone systems, after-hours telephone access, and telephone screening. Data Synthesis.-Of 80 eligible clinical trials, 61 (76%) analyzed provider-initiated communication with patients and 50 (63%) reported positive outcome, improved performance, or significant benefits, including studies of computerized communication (7 of 7), telephone follow-up and counseling (20 of 37), telephone reminders (14 of 23), interactive telephone systems (5 of 6), telephone access (3 of 4), and telephone screening (1 of 3). Significantly improved outcomes were demonstrated in studies of preventive care, management of osteoarthritis, cardiac rehabilitation, and diabetes care. Conclusions.-Distance medicine technology enables greater continuity of care by improving access and supporting the coordination of activities by a clinician. The benefits of distance technologies in facilitating communication between clinicians and patients indicate that application of telemedicine should not be limited to physician-to-physician communication.
AB - Objective.-To evaluate controlled evidence on the efficacy of distance medicine technologies in clinical practice and health care outcome. Data Sources.-Systematic electronic database and manual searches (19661996) were conducted to identify clinical trial reports on distance medicine applications. Study Selection.-Three eligibility criteria were applied: prospective, contemporaneously controlled clinical trial with random assignment of the intervention; electronic distance technology application in the intervention group and no similar intervention in the control group; and measurement of the intervention effect on process or outcome of care. Data Extraction.-Data were abstracted by independent reviewers using a standardized abstraction form and the quality of methodology was scored. Distance technology applications were described in 6 categories: computerized communication, telephone follow-up and counseling, telephone reminders, interactive telephone systems, after-hours telephone access, and telephone screening. Data Synthesis.-Of 80 eligible clinical trials, 61 (76%) analyzed provider-initiated communication with patients and 50 (63%) reported positive outcome, improved performance, or significant benefits, including studies of computerized communication (7 of 7), telephone follow-up and counseling (20 of 37), telephone reminders (14 of 23), interactive telephone systems (5 of 6), telephone access (3 of 4), and telephone screening (1 of 3). Significantly improved outcomes were demonstrated in studies of preventive care, management of osteoarthritis, cardiac rehabilitation, and diabetes care. Conclusions.-Distance medicine technology enables greater continuity of care by improving access and supporting the coordination of activities by a clinician. The benefits of distance technologies in facilitating communication between clinicians and patients indicate that application of telemedicine should not be limited to physician-to-physician communication.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030795389&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0030795389&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1001/jama.278.2.152
DO - 10.1001/jama.278.2.152
M3 - Article
C2 - 9214532
AN - SCOPUS:0030795389
SN - 0098-7484
VL - 278
SP - 152
EP - 159
JO - Journal of the American Medical Association
JF - Journal of the American Medical Association
IS - 2
ER -
