Effectiveness and safety of telemedical management in uncomplicated urinary tract infections.
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Effectiveness and safety of telemedical management in uncomplicated urinary tract infections. / Blozik, Eva; Sommer-Meyer, Carsten; Cerezo, Manuela; von Overbeck, Jan.
In: J TELEMED TELECARE, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2, 2011, p. 78-82.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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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 -