Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38180795›Full record

ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2024

Key Factors Influencing the Operationalization and Effectiveness of Telemedicine Services in Henan Province, China: Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Xianying He, Fangfang Cui, Minzhao Lyu, Dongxu Sun, Xu Zhang, Jinming Shi, Yinglan Zhang, Shuai Jiang, Jie Zhao

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
4.9field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Xianying He *National Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.ORCID 0000-0001-6918-9997
Fangfang Cui *National Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.ORCID 0000-0002-1870-7907
Minzhao LyuSchool of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-8677-248X
Dongxu SunNational Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.ORCID 0000-0003-4914-9132
Xu ZhangNational Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.ORCID 0009-0003-4624-8175
Jinming ShiNational Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.ORCID 0000-0002-3222-3845
Yinglan ZhangCollege of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.ORCID 0009-0001-1740-3856
Shuai JiangFinance Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0788-880X
Jie ZhaoNational Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.ORCID 0000-0003-1168-8384
First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University · CNUNSW Sydney · AUZhengzhou University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTelemedicine has demonstrated its potential in alleviating the unbalanced distribution of medical resources across different regions. Henan, a province in China with a population of approximately 100 million, is especially affected by a health care divide. The province has taken a proactive step by establishing a regional collaborative platform for telemedicine services provided by top-tier provincial hospitals.

objectiveWe aim to identify the key factors that influence the current operationalization and effectiveness of telemedicine services in Henan province. The insights gained from this study will serve as valuable references for enhancing the efficient operation of telemedicine platforms in low- and middle-income regions.

methodsWe analyzed service reports from the performance management system of telemedicine services in Henan province throughout 2020. Using descriptive statistics and graphical methods, we examined key influencing factors, such as management competency; device configuration; and hospital capability, capacity, and service efficacy, across hospitals at 2 different tiers. In addition, we used generalized linear models and multiple linear regression models to identify key operational factors that significantly affect the service volume and efficacy of 2 major telemedicine services, namely teleconsultation and tele-education.

resultsAmong the 89 tier 3 hospitals and 97 tier 2 hospitals connected to the collaborative telemedicine platform, 65 (73%) and 55 (57%), respectively, have established standardized management procedures for telemedicine services. As the primary delivery method for telemedicine services, 90% (80/89) of the tier 3 hospitals and 94% (91/97) of the tier 2 hospitals host videoconferencing consultations through professional hardware terminals rather than generic computers. Teleconsultation is the dominant service type, with an average annual service volume per institution of 173 (IQR 37-372) and 60 (IQR 14-271) teleconsultations for tier 3 and tier 2 hospitals, respectively. Key factors influencing the service volume at each hospital include available funding, management competency, the number of connected upper tiers, and the number of professional staff. After receiving teleconsultations from tier 3 (65/89, 73%) and tier 2 (61/97, 63%) hospitals, patients reported significant improvements in their medical conditions. In addition, we observed that service efficacy is positively influenced by management competency, financial incentives, the number of connected upper or lower tiers, and the involvement of participating medical professionals.

conclusionsTelemedicine has become increasingly popular in Henan province, with a notable focus on teleconsultation and tele-education services. Despite its popularity, many medical institutions, especially tier 2 hospitals, face challenges related to management competency. In addition to enhancing the effectiveness of existing telemedicine services, health care decision-makers in Henan province and other low- and middle-income regions should consider expanding the service categories, such as including remote emergency care and telesurgery, which have promise in addressing crucial health care needs in these regions.

Indexed as

Remote ConsultationTelemedicineChinaCross-Sectional StudiesHumansResearch Designefficiencyquality managementservice statisticstelemedicine

Identifiers

PMID38180795
PMCPMC10799288
OpenAlexW4390618415

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.