Abstract
Purpose :
Telemedicine use has risen in light of the COVID-19 pandemic as many ophthalmologists face barriers to providing in-person eye care. This study aims to describe caregiver experience using telemedicine for managing pediatric eye care at a rural academic medical center.
Methods :
An anonymous online survey was distributed to 35 caregivers of pediatric patients who had been contacted to participate in a telehealth eye appointment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Average scores were calculated for statements posed in the form of a five-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neutral/not applicable, 4 = agree, 5 = strongly agree).
Results :
A total of 17 responses were collected, of whom all had participated in telehealth. This was the first telehealth experience for 64.7% (11/15) of participants. The mean child and caregiver ages were 4 and 37 years old, respectively. The preferred telehealth platform was Zoom (15/17, 88.2%). Caregivers reported ease with obtaining at-home exam information including visual acuity and 9gaze motility photos (14/16, 87.5%). Additionally, 64.7% (11/17) of caregivers stated a telehealth appointment was more convenient than an in-person appointment. Overall, caregiver satisfaction with their child’s telehealth appointment was high with an average satisfaction score of 4.18/5.00.
Conclusions :
The telemedicine model for managing pediatric eye health was met with high levels of patient satisfaction at one rural academic medical center. This care approach should be considered for clinical management of pediatric eye health in the presence of barriers to in-person care, such as COVID-19.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.