Increased satisfaction of maternity hospital staff involved in fetal telediagnosis

Abstract

Questionnaires were sent to 14 maternity hospital staff members for qualitative assessment at the start of fetal telediagnosis and at the end of the study using a five-point Likert scale: 5, I strongly think so; 4, I think so; 3, I can't decide; 2, I don't think so; 1, I never think so. Ten questionnaires were returned to us (71%). The results showed that the staff reported a significant increase in confidence in performing fetal cardiac screening (score 2.3 at start, 3.4 at study completion; P = 0.034), the rate of score increase rose with the number of telediagnoses (r = 0.72, P < 0.05), feedback from a specialist was very useful (4.4 and 4.9, respectively), and real-time image transmission was preferred over recorded images (score 3.7 vs 2.4, respectively; P = 0.042). The excellent educational effect of telemedicine is useful for staff members to improve their skills while nurturing their motivation, leading to the promotion of fetal cardiac screening in regional areas.

Conceptual Framework to Evaluate Health Care Professionals’ Satisfaction in Utilizing Telemedicine

“…Health care professionals' satisfaction is as important as patient satisfaction in telemedicine delivery. Settings such as a maternity hospital, 25 a cardiology hospital, 26 intensive care units (ICUs), 27,28 and primary care practices 7,29 have found positive telemedicine satis-faction among health care professionals. However, several studies have reported either no significant changes in both perceived and real job satisfaction by delivering telemedicine services 30,31 or mixed results.…”

Service user and staff acceptance of fetal ultrasound telemedicine

“…11,13,14 Telemedicine also has the potential to upskill DGH staff and has facilitated the education of clinicians in screening methods. 10,15 For example, Hishanti et al found increased skills in staff and improved screening. 15 Telemedicine enabled staff to consult with specialists on subtle anomalies, and this led to better identification of abnormalities and resulted in increased referrals.…”

“…10,15 For example, Hishanti et al found increased skills in staff and improved screening. 15 Telemedicine enabled staff to consult with specialists on subtle anomalies, and this led to better identification of abnormalities and resulted in increased referrals. 15 A 'Fetal Ultrasound Telemedicine' pilot, funded by the Academic Health Science Network North East and North Cumbria (AHSN NENC), commenced in October 2015.…”

“…15 Telemedicine enabled staff to consult with specialists on subtle anomalies, and this led to better identification of abnormalities and resulted in increased referrals. 15 A 'Fetal Ultrasound Telemedicine' pilot, funded by the Academic Health Science Network North East and North Cumbria (AHSN NENC), commenced in October 2015. The primary objective was to initiate a service between the obstetric ultrasound unit of a remote/rural DGH (a subsidiary of Trust1) and the FMC of a major teaching hospital (Trust2), both in northern England.…”

“…Telemedicine also has the potential to upskill DGH staff and has facilitated the education of clinicians in screening methods. 10,15 For example, Hishanti et al. found increased skills in staff and improved screening.…”