Assessment of telemedicine versus in-person care in managing abdominal pain in children during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: Journal of telemedicine and telecare 2024-04, Vol.30 (3), p.538-542
• Main Authors: Jazayeri, Amir, Dinh, Julie V, Eseonu, Debra, Hollier, John M, Shneider, Benjamin L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdomen; COVID-19; Gastroenterology; Pandemics; Pediatrics; RESEARCH/Original; Telemedicine
• ISSN: 1357-633X; 1758-1109
• DOI: 10.1177/1357633X221125836

Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic increase in telemedicine care delivery. This raises the question of whether the visit type affects the care provided to patients in the pediatric gastroenterology clinic. The aim of this study is to assess whether diagnostic, treatment, and outcome measures differ between telemedicine and in-person visits in patients seen in pediatric gastroenterology clinics for the chief complaint of abdominal pain. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients aged 0–22 who underwent their initial pediatric gastroenterology clinic visit, for abdominal pain, between March and September 2020 (n = 1769). The patients were divided into two groups: in-person or telemedicine. Clinical outcome measures were compared from the initial gastroenterology visit and followed for a total of 3 months. Results There was an increase number of images (M = 0.52 vs. 0.36, p < 0.001), labs (M = 4.87 vs. 4.05; p = 0.001), medications (M = 2.24 vs. 1.67; p < 0.001), and referrals (M = 0.70 vs. 0.54; p < 0.001) performed per visit in the in-person group. Electronic communications (3.97 vs. 5.12 p