Document Type

Article

Abstract

This study reports challenges in recruiting patients for a randomized controHed trial of home-care telemedicinae. Descriptive statistics on patient eligibility for home-care telemedidne services and patient refusals for participation are provided. Frequency counts of reasons for study exclusion and participant refusal and Chi-square tests to compare race and age-related differences are given. Of 302 home-care patients reviewed, 197 (65.2%) did not meet inclusion criteria. The most common reasons for study exclusion were patients either needing <2 visits per month (n = 59, 30%) or >3 skilled nurse visits per week (n = 46, 23.4%). Of the eligible patients (n = 105), 79 persons (75.2%) refused participation. The most common reasons for refusals were lack of perceived addition benefit of telemedicine (n = 27, 34.2%), and that routine health care was sufficient (n = 23, 29.1%). Higher than expected proportions of patients did not meet chosen eligibility criteria or refused to participate. These results should be helpful in designing home-care telemedidne programs and clinical trials.

Disciplines

Clinical and Medical Social Work | Health Services Research | Social Work | Therapeutics

Comments

[Publisher Statement]: This is a copy of an article published in the Telemedicine Journal and e-Health © 2004 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.; Telemedicine Journal and e-Health is available online at: http://online.liebertpub.com.

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