Session Information
Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ARHP)
Background/Purpose: Telemedicine-based approaches to healthcare service delivery are known to improve access to care, as well as the efficiency, quality and timeliness of healthcare service provision in sparsely populated areas. Arthritis care providers working in rural communities recognized that patients with inflammatory arthritis had limited access to appropriate patient education and could benefit from the Prescription for Education (RxEd) program (a one-day education session for adults with inflammatory conditions delivered by an interprofessional team of specialized arthritis care providers).
The one-day program was adapted to include the use of interactive videoconferencing as a method of delivery. Adaptive strategies for educators (local presenters and rural site clinical leads) included two workshops (Telemedicine Best Practices and Adult Education Principles; Improved Public Speaking) designed to optimize the instructive value of the videoconferencing technology.
The objectives of this presentation are: 1) To explore the feasibility of and participant satisfaction with the use of telemedicine to deliver the RxEd program in rural communities; 2) To use process outcome data to inform improvements in the delivery of future sessions.
Methods: Participants included adults with inflammatory arthritis attending the RxEd program locally or at one of four rural sites (remote). Participants completed course evaluations immediately post-program. Educators completed post-program reflective logs (including qualitative perceptions of videoconferencing technology, interaction between sites, small group learning activities). In addition, a debriefing meeting was held (RxEd educators, telemedicine coordinators, researchers) to discuss collected data and identify delivery modifications to be implemented in future sessions.
Results: Forty-nine persons (12 local; 37 remote, across 4 sites) attended the inaugural RxEd Telemedicine session. Forty-three completed the post-program course evaluation (12 local; 31 remote). Preliminary findings indicate that remote participants were satisfied with the quality of the videoconference (% responding with ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’): could hear presenter (97%), could see who was speaking at remote sites (83%), could see slides (87%), adequate facilitation of interaction between sites (90%), could hear discussion between sites (73%).
Educators’ post-program reflection logs (n=9) captured feedback about the quality of the videoconferencing, interaction between sites, and small group learning activities. Many of the concerns identified by the educators were consistent with participant feedback. Suggested improvements included: the use of two screens where possible and direct frontal camera angles; equality of interaction with remote sites; slide modifications to improve readability on screen and in handouts; and slight changes in program delivery.
Conclusion: Findings from this pilot session confirm that it is feasible to extend the RxEd program to rural communities using telemedicine. Several areas for improvement of the Telemedicine delivery have been identified and will be addressed where possible.
Disclosure:
C. Kennedy,
None;
K. Warmington,
None;
C. Flewelling,
None;
R. Shupak,
None;
A. Papachristos,
Abbvie, Roche, UCB, Janssen,
8,
Abbive,
5;
C. Jones,
None;
D. Beaton,
None;
S. C. Lineker,
The Arthritis Society,
3;
D. Linton,
None.
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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/participant-and-educator-feedback-informs-delivery-of-an-interprofessional-inflammatory-arthritis-education-program-using-telemedicine-in-rural-communities/