ArticleCureus2026
Implementing a Doctor-to-Doctor Telemedicine Network to Strengthen Rural Obstetric Care in Japan: Feasibility, Clinical Utility, and Educational Impact.
Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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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.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Trend in Devices and Digital Tools for Remote Consultation From Medical Providers to Specialists: Scoping Review.Online journal of public health informatics · 2026Review
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionJapan has experienced a steady decline in live births and maternity facilities, with rural areas particularly affected by shortages of obstetricians and restricted access to perinatal care. Telemedicine has been proposed as a means of bridging these gaps, yet doctor-to-doctor systems remain scarcely reported, especially in obstetrics. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, clinical utility, and educational impact of a doctor-to-doctor teleconsultation system linking a tertiary university hospital with a rural municipal maternity facility in Japan.
methodsWe conducted a retrospective observational study of pregnant women whose management was discussed via a teleconsultation over a 17-month period (November 2023-March 2025). Clinical data and pregnancy outcomes were reviewed. Six junior physicians who used the system completed an anonymous questionnaire consisting of seven Likert-scale items and three open-ended questions.
resultsDuring the study period, 21 teleconsultations were held, covering 58 cases. The main clinical issues were obstetric complications (20, 34%), non-obstetric maternal conditions (20, 34%), fetal anomalies (8, 14%), and early pregnancy loss (4, 6.9%). Management planning was the most frequent reason for consultation (47, 81%). Of 47 cases in which management was discussed, 17 (36%) were referred to tertiary care, while all 30 cases (64%) managed locally resulted in uncomplicated deliveries at the rural hospital. In the survey, more than 80% of junior physicians (5 of 6) reported benefits in clinical decision-making, learning opportunities, and psychological reassurance.
conclusionThis pilot study suggests that doctor-to-doctor teleconsultation is feasible and clinically valuable, while also offering educational and psychological support for junior physicians, thereby serving as a practical strategy for sustaining safe perinatal care in resource-limited rural settings.
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