Remote Orthopedic Outpatient Consultation by Help of Telemedicine

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Orthopedic Disorders
• Interventions: Other: Standard care in orthopaedic outpatient clinic; Other: Telemedicine consultation

• Registration Number: NCT00616837
• Lead Sponsor: University Hospital of North Norway

Brief Summary

Patients from 4 local communities in northern Norway referred (either new or follow up) to orthopaedic department, University hospital of Northern Norway for outpatient consultation, are randomly assigned to either remote consultation by use of telemedicine (camera and screen), or standard consultation at the hospital. There are x-ray facilities also at the remote site. The patients randomized to telemedicine consultation meet special trained nurses at the remote site, but doctor only by video conference. The patients will be followed for up to one year. The primary endpoint is quality of care achieved with the telemedicine consultation as compared to standard outpatient consultation (assessed by questionnaires filled out by the doctor involved). Secondary end points are patient satisfaction assessed by questionnaires and economic analyses. The study hypothesis is non-inferiority of telemedicine consultation vs. conventional, outpatient consultation.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2007-11
• Study First Submitted: 2008-01-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-02-14
• Study First Posted: 2008-02-15
• Primary Completion: 2012-10
• Study Completion: 2014-10
• Status Verified: 2015-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-12-16
• Last Update Posted: 2015-12-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 400

Inclusion Criteria

• Informed consent given
• New referred patients to orthopaedic department (outpatient), UNN, for conditions suitable for telemedicine consultation
• Follow up consultation of trauma patients (operated/not operated)
• Follow up consultation after elective orthopaedic surgery (e.g hip prothesis)
• Follow up of other orthopaedic patients

Exclusion Criteria

• Senile dementia
• Soldiers, prisoners
• Patients not talking Norwegian, dependent on translator
• If specialized procedures are required during follow up (e.g. cat-scan, ultrasound etc)
• Patients requiring a specific doctor

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Standard consultation	Standard care in orthopaedic outpatient clinic	Standard care in orthopaedic outpatient clinic
Telemedicine consultation	Telemedicine consultation	Orthopaedic care in outpatient clinic by use of telemedicine.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Safety and quality of health care	1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Patient satisfaction	up to 1 year after last consultation	Patient satisfaction will be measured based on a total score calculated on the basis of responses to satisfaction questionnaire. Questionnaires will be filled out at each visit/consultation and at 3 months or one year after last consultation.
Cost value	up to 1 year	Travel expenses, escort expenses, equipment and other costs related to patient consultation

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Orthopaedic department, Tromso University Hospital; 🇳🇴 Tromso, Norway