The research was based on a survey on the use of telemedicine in the diabetes consultation.
The Argentine Diabetes Society published the COVID-19 Telemedicine Research Report, which aimed “to describe characteristics in the telemedicine practice of of the community of physicians dedicated to the care of people with diabetes”. To carry out the study, a survey was conducted on the use of telemedicine in diabetologic consultations, and subsequently to make a comparison between consultations made before the mandatory and preventive social isolation that the Argentine government applied during quarantine days since 12 March.
The surveys were applied to 353 health professionals, and were distributed via email. However, only 58% of doctors managed to complete the survey in its entirety. Questions were asked such as the means used for a telemedicine consultation, such as WhatsApp, Zoom, Skype, among others or informed consent questions.
The results showed that 92.8% of specialists stay in touch with their patients regardless of age. Another important result shown by the study is the preference of professionals working in the private sector over the technological media, 92.4% over 78% of public sector professionals.
Perhaps the most important finding, however, was the problem that professionals have with informed consent, as only 34% consider teleconsultation to require informed consent. Among the conclusions, the authors noted that “in the studied population, the developing practice of telemedicine: often increasing, with the risk of lack of informed consent in most communications, without the corresponding economic remuneration, without adequate planning, without quality standards”.
SOCIEDAD ARGENTINA DE DIABETES
https://mail.revistasad.com/index.php/diabetes/article/view/399
