Challenges in telemedicine equivalence studies [An article from: Evaluation and Program Planning]

This digital document is a journal article from Evaluation and Program Planning, published by Elsevier in 2006. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
As the number of telemedicine programs continues to grow, the accuracy of diagnosis over interactive televideo is a central concern. Although investigators have begun to address diagnostic equivalency in telehealth clinics, few published studies reflect strong research design. The two presented telehealth programs completed randomized controlled trials in real-world clinical settings that addressed some of the methodologic shortcomings of prior studies. Diagnostic equivalency studies were completed across five telehealth specialty clinics: physical therapy, speech therapy, ambulatory pediatrics, child psychiatry, and developmental disabilities services. The two research teams encountered similar decision points in designing and implementing the equivalency protocols. This article addresses methodologic issues in choosing design, participants, technology, and evaluation measures. Although the paper focuses on interactive televideo, the issues raised are pertinent across telehealth technologies.