TY - JOUR
T1 - Perspectives of telehealth access and implementation in people recovering from serious transport injury, health care providers and compensation system staff during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
AU - Clark-Ash, Megan
AU - Callaway, Libby
AU - Hill, Keith D.
AU - Gabbe, Belinda J.
AU - Kunstler, Breanne
AU - Keeves, Jemma
AU - Kimmel, Lara
AU - Reeder, Sandra C.
A2 - Ekegren, Christina L.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge Dr Beth Costa and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) research team for their assistance and collaboration throughout the delivery of this research. The authors also wish to thank the staff of the Victorian State Trauma Outcomes Registry and Monitoring Group (VSTORM) for their assistance with recruitment and data collection, specifically Melissa Hart, Amanda Brown, Sue McLellan, Chris McShane and Pamela Butt. The authors also wish to thank the larger project team for the provision of feedback and input into the original research, including Dr Natasha Brusco. The authors also thank the participants of their research for their time and for sharing their insights. This research was funded by a grant ( T047 ) from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) . BG was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant ( APP 2009998 ). The Victorian State Trauma Registry is funded by the Victorian Department of Health and the TAC . The Victorian Orthopaedic Trauma Outcomes Registry is funded by the TAC .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
PY - 2023/10
Y1 - 2023/10
N2 - Introduction: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, few injury compensation schemes supported access to service-delivery via telehealth. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of people recovering from serious transport injury, health care providers, and senior staff of a transport injury compensation scheme, in relation to the uptake and implementation of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its ongoing use. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 35 participants, including 15 seriously injured patients, 16 health care providers and 4 compensation scheme staff. A thematic analysis was performed using a framework approach. Results: Themes identified included the need to provide continuity of care via telehealth during the pandemic for patients recovering from injury, and the associated organisational and technical support needs. It was noted that some types of services worked well via telehealth, including psychology, while others did not, including physical assessments. The convenience of telehealth was highlighted, in relation to reduced travel. However, there were often safety fears relating to falls, and communication issues with injured people. Conclusions: This research found that the majority of injured patients and health care providers had benefitted from the introduction of service delivery via telehealth during the pandemic for some types of services. Participants saw opportunities for continued benefit post-pandemic, particularly for improving equity of access to health care for people with barriers to mobility and travel.
AB - Introduction: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, few injury compensation schemes supported access to service-delivery via telehealth. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of people recovering from serious transport injury, health care providers, and senior staff of a transport injury compensation scheme, in relation to the uptake and implementation of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its ongoing use. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 35 participants, including 15 seriously injured patients, 16 health care providers and 4 compensation scheme staff. A thematic analysis was performed using a framework approach. Results: Themes identified included the need to provide continuity of care via telehealth during the pandemic for patients recovering from injury, and the associated organisational and technical support needs. It was noted that some types of services worked well via telehealth, including psychology, while others did not, including physical assessments. The convenience of telehealth was highlighted, in relation to reduced travel. However, there were often safety fears relating to falls, and communication issues with injured people. Conclusions: This research found that the majority of injured patients and health care providers had benefitted from the introduction of service delivery via telehealth during the pandemic for some types of services. Participants saw opportunities for continued benefit post-pandemic, particularly for improving equity of access to health care for people with barriers to mobility and travel.
KW - Compensation
KW - Health care
KW - Qualitative
KW - Telehealth
KW - Traumatic injury
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85169809784&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.injury.2023.110987
DO - 10.1016/j.injury.2023.110987
M3 - Article
C2 - 37574380
AN - SCOPUS:85169809784
SN - 0020-1383
VL - 54
JO - Injury
JF - Injury
IS - 10
M1 - 110987
ER -