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The Multi-stakeholder Assessment of Economic and Managerial Determinants and Impacts of Telemedicine

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Telemedicine
Interventions
Other: Telemedicine
Registration Number
NCT06171763
Lead Sponsor
Buzzi Children's Hospital
Brief Summary

The study aims to conduct a comprehensive evaluation involving multiple stakeholders to assess the factors influencing and the consequences of telehomecare in comparison to traditional care models. The integration of technology into the healthcare sector necessitates significant changes in care of patients, organizational structures, production processes, organizational responsibilities, and the management of service delivery processes.

The delivery of telemedicine services through integrated devices represents a method of service production that demands active involvement from patients or, in the case of pediatric patients, their caregivers. This collaborative process of patient engagement in healthcare services is referred to as "co-production." In this research, telehomecare will be examined as an illustrative instance of co-producing healthcare services.

Co-production implies that the inputs into a production process are contributed not only by the organization producing a good or service but also by the users. In the case study, co-production occurs through the interaction between patients/caregivers and professionals during telehealth visits for device-mediated monitoring activities. Throughout the televisit, patients/caregivers play a crucial role in collecting and sharing the necessary parameters with professionals using the device, thereby serving as essential actors in the care process.

The investigators explored the impact of a transitional care program, utilizing an user-friendly mobile medical device, to support an early discharges in a pediatric setting. Clinical outcome and economic advantages are considered. This study will contribute to implement knowledge on the role of telemedicine on HaH healthcare in pediatrics.

Detailed Description

This is a single-center, two-arm, randomized, open-label, parallel-group study that was conducted at Buzzi Children's Hospital, a hospital in a metropolis located in Milan (Italy). The different arms consisted of an experimental group with an early discharge adopting telehomecare and a standard care group with in-person physical care until the end of hospitalization.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
150
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Telehome careTelemedicineFor patients/caregivers assigned to the tele-homecare group, before discharge, instruction on the use of the TytoCareTM system was provided by healthcare personnel trained in the use of the system. Subsequently, each patient give the device they used until the scheduled post-discharge clinical assessment. A parent/caregiver was invited to participate for each pediatric patient. Every 24 hours, the patient was assessed remotely in synchronous teleconsultation by medical staff; during tele-visit, the physician performed the complete routine procedure, including medical history and physical examination with user friendly medical device and completed the data collection sheet. At 72 hours after discharge, an in-person clinical assessment was scheduled for outcome evaluation. In particular, during the visit, the complete resolution of the disease state was assessed through the post-discharge objective examination.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Early discharge utilizing an user-friendly mobile medical device12 months

Considering in-person visit as the standard care procedure, the primary objective of this study is to obtain concordance with complete resolution of the disease from in-person physical care, without re-admission to the hospital. The investigators expect non-readmission in a minimum of 90 % of cases.

Outcome measure: count and percentage of patients readmitted to the hospital after early discharge

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Length of stay12 months

To record a lower length of stay in interventional group compared to standard care group Outcome measure: days of hospitalization

Economic impact12 months

To compare costs of hospitalization between interventional group compared to standard care group Outcome measure: direct and indirect costs (in euros)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Buzzi Children's Hospital

🇮🇹

Milano, Italy

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