Effectiveness and safety of telemedical management in uncomplicated urinary tract infections.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effectiveness and safety of telemedical management in uncomplicated urinary tract infections.

AU - Blozik, Eva

AU - Sommer-Meyer, Carsten

AU - Cerezo, Manuela

AU - von Overbeck, Jan

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UUTI) in women are frequent reasons for consultations in general practice. We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of telemedical management at a telemedicine centre in Switzerland. Management followed evidence-based protocols, including teleprescription of an antibiotic. Consecutive UUTI patients who had a teleconsultation including the prescription of an antibiotic were followed up three days later about symptom relief, adverse events or the need to visit a doctor. Of a total of 526 eligible women, follow-up information was available for 95%. Three days after teleconsultation, 79% of patients reported complete symptom relief, and 92% reported a reduction of UUTI symptoms. Five percent of patients reported deterioration, e.g. due to an increase of pain, flank pain or fever. Four percent reported side-effects of the prescribed antibiotics. In the three days following teleconsultation, 4% of women consulted another health-care provider without further contacting the telemedicine centre. Another 8% of patients were referred to face-to-face consultation because they developed additional symptoms or because bacterial resistance of the prescribed antibiotic was suspected. Compared to data from the literature on UUTI, evidence-based telemedical management including teleprescription of an antibiotic is as safe and effective as prescriptions initiated by a face-to-face consultation.

AB - Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UUTI) in women are frequent reasons for consultations in general practice. We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of telemedical management at a telemedicine centre in Switzerland. Management followed evidence-based protocols, including teleprescription of an antibiotic. Consecutive UUTI patients who had a teleconsultation including the prescription of an antibiotic were followed up three days later about symptom relief, adverse events or the need to visit a doctor. Of a total of 526 eligible women, follow-up information was available for 95%. Three days after teleconsultation, 79% of patients reported complete symptom relief, and 92% reported a reduction of UUTI symptoms. Five percent of patients reported deterioration, e.g. due to an increase of pain, flank pain or fever. Four percent reported side-effects of the prescribed antibiotics. In the three days following teleconsultation, 4% of women consulted another health-care provider without further contacting the telemedicine centre. Another 8% of patients were referred to face-to-face consultation because they developed additional symptoms or because bacterial resistance of the prescribed antibiotic was suspected. Compared to data from the literature on UUTI, evidence-based telemedical management including teleprescription of an antibiotic is as safe and effective as prescriptions initiated by a face-to-face consultation.

KW - Humans

KW - Female

KW - Treatment Outcome

KW - Switzerland

KW - Patient Satisfaction

KW - Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use

KW - Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary/therapeutic use

KW - Electronic Prescribing

KW - Remote Consultation/organization & administration/standards

KW - Urinary Tract Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy

KW - Humans

KW - Female

KW - Treatment Outcome

KW - Switzerland

KW - Patient Satisfaction

KW - Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use

KW - Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary/therapeutic use

KW - Electronic Prescribing

KW - Remote Consultation/organization & administration/standards

KW - Urinary Tract Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

VL - 17

SP - 78

EP - 82

JO - J TELEMED TELECARE

JF - J TELEMED TELECARE

SN - 1357-633X

IS - 2

M1 - 2

ER -