Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association
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Telemedicine options for symptom assessment include both telephonic means (call centers) and Internet sites. Although symptom assessment call centers have been available for decades, symptom assessment over the Internet is relatively new. It is not well known what types of symptoms Internet users are seeking assessment for and whether extant telephone triage algorithms would be applicable to Internet users. ⋯ Internet users have symptoms assessed in similar proportions to callers, with a few exceptions. Compared with callers, Web users are much more likely looking for information about adult symptoms. Callers are proportionally asking more about acute symptoms, whereas Internet users appear more interested in symptom assessment of chronic conditions.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A web-based versus paper questionnaire on alcohol and tobacco in adolescents.
Our study was aimed at comparing health behavior data collected from a Web-based self-administered questionnaire (Web SAQ) versus a paper-and-pencil self-administered questionnaire and assessing the feasibility of the application. ⋯ The findings of the study suggest that differences in reporting of some behavior of adolescents when using a Web SAQ do exist, despite the small-to-medium effect sizes. Exploiting the Web requires further investigation for extensive comprehension of the reasons for such differences.
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Remote intensive care unit (ICU) monitoring (tele-ICU) may provide a means to address the shortage of intensive care physicians. However, the consequences of implementing a tele-ICU system for house staff education and clinical experience are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine resident perceptions of the impact of a tele-ICU implementation on patient care, education, and the overall work environment. ⋯ Our study suggests that a tele-ICU implementation in a medical ICU does not seem to have a negative impact on the educational experience of residents and is associated with perceived improvements in patient safety and quality. Future studies should objectively measure the educational impact of implementing a tele-ICU system.
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Phlebotomy and venous cannulation are the most frequently performed and the most distressing invasive procedures in pediatrics. The aim of this pilot study was to assess whether a novel vein imaging system was advantageous for the identification of superficial veins, thus reducing the number of skin punctures. ⋯ Near-infrared technology facilitated venipuncture and venous cannulation in a pediatric cohort. Further, controlled trials are required including children of specific age groups and those from ethnic minorities.