ArticlePloS one2018
Expectations of medical specialists about image-based teleconsultation - A qualitative study on acute burns in South Africa.
Article in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Utility of Telehealth Platforms Applied to Burns Management: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Pooled it
- Intention to Use Automated Diagnosis and Clinical Risk Perceptions Among First Contact Clinicians in Resource-Poor Settings: Questionnaire-Based Study Focusing on Acute Burns.JMIR human factors · 2025Article
- Use of the Vula App to refer patients in the West Coast District: A descriptive exploratory qualitative study.South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care · 2022Article
- Evaluation of a Managed Surgical Consultation Network in Malawi.World journal of surgery · 2021Article
- mHealth for image-based diagnostics of acute burns in resource-poor settings: studies on the role of experts and the accuracy of their assessments.Global health action · 2020Article
- The 6-star doctor? Physicians' communication of poor prognosis to patients and their families in Cape Coast, Ghana.BMJ global health · 2020Article
- m-Health for Burn Injury Consultations in a Low-Resource Setting: An Acceptability Study Among Health Care Providers.Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association · 2020Article
- Teleconsultation Using Mobile Phones for Diagnosis and Acute Care of Burn Injuries Among Emergency Physicians: Mixed-Methods Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2018Article
- What do emergency medicine and burns specialists from resource constrained settings expect from mHealth-based diagnostic support? A qualitative study examining the case of acute burn care.BMC medical informatics and decision making · 2018Article
- Accuracy of acute burns diagnosis made using smartphones and tablets: a questionnaire-based study among medical experts.BMC emergency medicine · 2017Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundImage-based teleconsultation between medical experts and healthcare staff at remote emergency centres can improve the diagnosis of conditions which are challenging to assess. One such condition is burns. Knowledge is scarce regarding how medical experts perceive the influence of such teleconsultation on their roles and relations to colleagues at point of care.
methodsIn this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 medical experts to explore their expectations of a newly developed App for burns diagnostics and care prior to its implementation. Purposive sampling included male and female physicians at different stages of their career, employed at different referral hospitals and all potential future tele-experts in remote teleconsultation using the App. Positioning theory was used to analyse the data.
resultsThe experts are already facing changes in their diagnostic practices due to the informal use of open access applications like WhatsApp. Additional changes are expected when the new App is launched. Four positions of medical experts were identified in situations of diagnostic advice, two related to patient flow-clinical specialist and gatekeeper-and two to point of care staff-educator and mentor. The experts move flexibly between the positions during diagnostic practices with remote colleagues. A new position in relation to previous research on medical roles-the mentor-came to light in this setting. The App is expected to have an important educational impact, streamline the diagnostic process, improve both triage and referrals and be a more secure option for remote diagnosis compared to current practices. Verbal communication is however expected to remain important for certain situations, in particular those related to the mentor position.
conclusionThe quality and security of referrals are expected to be improved through the App but the medical experts see less potential for conveying moral support via the App during remote consultations. Experts' reflections on remote consultations highlight the embedded social and cultural dimensions of implementing new technology.
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