A RAND/UCLA-Modified VAS Study on Telemedicine, Telehealth, and Virtual Care in Daily Clinical Practice of Vascular Medicine

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Sergio Pillon
• Author: Georgia Gomatou
• Author: Evangelos Dimakakos
• Author: Agata Stanek
• Author: Zsolt Pecsvarady
• Author: Matija Kozak
• Author: Jean-Claude Wautrecht
• Author: Katalin Farkas
• Author: Gerit-Holger Schernthaner
• Author: Mariella Catalano
• Author: Aleš Blinc
• Author: Grigorios Gerotziafas
• Author: Pavel Poredoš
• Author: Sergio De Marchi
• Author: Michael E. Gschwandtner
• Author: Endre Kolossváry
• Author: Muriel Sprynger
• Author: Bahar Fazeli
• Author: Aaron Liew
• Author: Peter Marschang
• Author: Andrzej Szuba
• Author: Dusan Suput
• Author: Michael Edmonds
• Author: Chris Manu
• Author: Christian Alexander Schaefer
• Author: George Marakomichelakis
• Author: Majda Vrkić Kirhmajer
• Author: Jonas Spaak
• Author: Elias Kotteas
• Author: Gianfranco Lessiani
• Author: Mary Paola Colgan
• Author: Marc Righini
• Author: Michael Lichtenberg
• Author: Oliver Schlager
• Author: Caitriona Canning
• Author: Antonella Marcoccia
• Author: Anastasios Kollias
• Author: Alberta Spreafico
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Internal Medicine)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Internal Medicine

Abstract (english)

Background: Telemedicine is increasingly used in several fields of healthcare, including vascular medicine. This study aimed to investigate the views of experts and propose clinical practice recommendations on the possible applications of telemedicine in vascular medicine.
Methods: A clinical guidance group proposed a set of 67 clinical practice recommendations based on the synthesis of current evidence and expert opinion. The Telemedicine Vascular Medicine Working Group included 32 experts from Europe evaluating the appropriateness of each clinical practice recommendation based on published RAND/UCLA methodology in two rounds.
Results: In the first round, 60.9% of clinical practice recommendations were rated as appropriate, 35.9% as uncertain, and 3.1% as inappropriate. The strongest agreement (a median value of 10) was reached on statements regarding the usefulness of telemedicine during the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, its usefulness for geographical areas that are difficult to access, and the superiority of video calls compared to phone calls only. The lowest degree of agreement (a median value of 2) was reported on statements regarding the utility of telemedicine being limited to the COVID-19 pandemic and regarding the applicability of teleconsultation in the diagnosis and management of abdominal aortic aneurysm. In the second round, 11 statements were re-evaluated to reduce variability.
Conclusions: This study highlights the levels of agreement and the points that raise concern on the use of telemedicine in vascular medicine. It emphasizes the need for further clarification on various issues, including infrastructure, logistics, and legislation.

• Keywords (english): telehealth; telemedicine; vascular medicine
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Journal of Clinical Medicine
• Numbering: vol. 13, no. 6, 1750
• e-ISSN: 2077-0383
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13061750
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:119535
• Publication: 2024-03-18
• Document URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/6/1750
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-09-30 07:57:35