Acceptability of telemedicine for follow up after contraceptive implant initiation at an obstetrics and gynecologic training center

BMC Health Services Research

Research

Natchanika Sinthuchai¹  Duangporn Maitreechit²  Jarika Vatrasresth³  Sirarat Ittipuripat³  Unnop Jaisamrarn³  Arissara Kuptarak³  Somsook Santibenchakul⁴  Sarochinee Sathitloetsakun⁵  Peerapong Prapaisilp⁶  Monchada Sukrong⁶  Parichart Karroon⁷ 

[1] Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA;Department of Nursing, KCMH lactation clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Phayao Hospital, Phayao, Thailand;Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand;Outpatient unit Gynecology and Family planning, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand;

关键词: Telemedicine;    Telehealth;    Contraceptive implant;    Long-acting reversible contraceptives;    COVID-19;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12913-023-09816-7

 received in 2023-02-08, accepted in 2023-07-14,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has become a popular adjunct to in-person visits, including for family planning services. This study determined the proportion of clients participated in telemedicine services and the association between sociodemographic factors and telemedicine participation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The adverse effects within the first seven days post-insertion were also reported.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study considered data from all women initiating contraceptive implantation between June 2020 and August 2021 at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Clients were offered the following two options for follow-up visits: in-person or communication via an online LINE® Official Account (LINE® OA), a free chat application widely used among the Thais. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between socio-demographic factors and telehealth usage.ResultsIn total, 574 of 947 (60.6%) clients participated in telemedicine follow-up services during the period considered. A significant association between telemedicine usage and the following were observed: the peak of second wave COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand, using the period preceding the second wave as a reference [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.47 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12–1.96)]; participants receiving governmental benefits for contraceptive implant payment (aOR: 3.23, 95% CI: 1.86–5.60), and timing of contraceptive implant(s) initiation, using interval insertion as a reference for which aORs of postpartum and immediate postpartum insertions were 0.62 (95% CI: 0.43–0.90) and 0.35 (95% CI: 0.24–0.52), respectively. Significant ecchymosis at the insertion site was observed in 13.1% of participants.ConclusionThis study emphasizes the significance of telemedicine during the COVID-19 epidemic, particularly in facilitating contraceptive implant initiation. Our data show a significant increase in the uptake and utilization of telemedicine during the pandemic’s peak. The data also shows that during the period of Thailand’s second COVID-19 epidemic, government benefits for contraceptive implant payment, and the timing of contraceptive implant initiation, are significantly associated with telemedicine use. This finding supports the continued use of telemedicine in healthcare, particularly for services like family planning, where remote follow-ups can provide safe, efficient, and timely care.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 2