Child and Parent Satisfaction with Telemedicine in Paediatric Orthopaedics - a Survey of Children and Parents Regarding the Switch to Virtual Outpatient Appointments During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Description

In this presentation, Luke Granger discusses a study evaluating parent and child satisfaction with telemedicine appointments in pediatric orthopedics during the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlights the transition to virtual outpatient activities and reflects on existing literature regarding adult opinions on telemedicine, noting a lack of evidence for children's perspectives. The study retrospectively surveyed 300 telemedicine appointments from the first half of 2021, focusing on children's and parents' satisfaction. Results showed that a significant majority of both children (72%) and parents (71%) expressed satisfaction with their virtual appointments, despite a noted preference for face-to-face interaction (56% of children and 54% of parents). Key advantages of telemedicine included reduced anxiety and travel time, whereas common disadvantages cited by children were feelings of being ignored and the lack of formal examinations. Granger emphasizes the need to prioritize in-person visits post-pandemic while acknowledging that telemedicine can be well-received when necessary. He concludes that for younger populations, technological barriers are rarely an issue, advocating for the continuation of face-to-face appointments where feasible.

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