Evaluation of an occupational therapy led Paediatric Burns Telehealth Review Clinic: exploring the experience of family/carers and clinicians

Introduction: Children with deep-partial or full-thickness burns often require complicated post-surgical care and rehabilitation, including specialist occupational therapy (OT) intervention, to achieve optimal outcomes. Those from rural and remote areas rarely have access to these services and mu...

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Main Authors: Debra Phillips, Lauren Matheson, Tilley Pain, Gail Kingston
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: James Cook University 2022-02-01
Series:Rural and Remote Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/6887/
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author Debra Phillips
Lauren Matheson
Tilley Pain
Gail Kingston
author_facet Debra Phillips
Lauren Matheson
Tilley Pain
Gail Kingston
author_sort Debra Phillips
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Children with deep-partial or full-thickness burns often require complicated post-surgical care and rehabilitation, including specialist occupational therapy (OT) intervention, to achieve optimal outcomes. Those from rural and remote areas rarely have access to these services and must travel to a tertiary referral hospital to access follow-up, placing them at higher risk of complications and poorer outcomes. The OT-Led Paediatric Burn Telehealth Review (OTPB) Clinic, based at Townsville University Hospital in northern Queensland, Australia, was set up to address this inequity. The aim of this study was to investigate the experience of both family members and clinicians in using the OTPB Clinic. Methods: A qualitative approach, guided by interpretive phenomenology, was used. Eight family members and six clinicians participated in semi-structured interviews conducted by phone or telehealth. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes. Results: Four major themes were derived through thematic analysis: continuity of care, family-centred care, technology and building of rural capacity. Conclusion: Family and clinicians confirm benefits of a telehealth service for delivering care to rural and remote children after burn injury. The results show this expanded-scope, OT-led telehealth model provides quality patient-centred and expert clinical advice within local communities and builds the skill and capacity of local clinicians. Areas for service enhancement were uncovered. This telehealth model can be translated to other clinical subspecialties across Australia.
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spelling doaj.art-25e057b41d2a484da6d6b96f61f24e5a2022-12-21T20:09:19ZengJames Cook UniversityRural and Remote Health1445-63542022-02-012210.22605/RRH6887Evaluation of an occupational therapy led Paediatric Burns Telehealth Review Clinic: exploring the experience of family/carers and cliniciansDebra Phillips0Lauren Matheson1Tilley Pain2Gail Kingston3Occupational Therapy Department, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, PO Box 670, Townsville, Qld 4810, AustraliaOccupational Therapy Department, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, PO Box 670, Townsville, Qld 4810, AustraliaAllied Health Governance Office, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia; and College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, AustraliaOccupational Therapy Department, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, PO Box 670, Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia Introduction: Children with deep-partial or full-thickness burns often require complicated post-surgical care and rehabilitation, including specialist occupational therapy (OT) intervention, to achieve optimal outcomes. Those from rural and remote areas rarely have access to these services and must travel to a tertiary referral hospital to access follow-up, placing them at higher risk of complications and poorer outcomes. The OT-Led Paediatric Burn Telehealth Review (OTPB) Clinic, based at Townsville University Hospital in northern Queensland, Australia, was set up to address this inequity. The aim of this study was to investigate the experience of both family members and clinicians in using the OTPB Clinic. Methods: A qualitative approach, guided by interpretive phenomenology, was used. Eight family members and six clinicians participated in semi-structured interviews conducted by phone or telehealth. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes. Results: Four major themes were derived through thematic analysis: continuity of care, family-centred care, technology and building of rural capacity. Conclusion: Family and clinicians confirm benefits of a telehealth service for delivering care to rural and remote children after burn injury. The results show this expanded-scope, OT-led telehealth model provides quality patient-centred and expert clinical advice within local communities and builds the skill and capacity of local clinicians. Areas for service enhancement were uncovered. This telehealth model can be translated to other clinical subspecialties across Australia. https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/6887/allied healthAustraliaburnspaediatricsqualitative researchtelerehabilitation.
spellingShingle Debra Phillips
Lauren Matheson
Tilley Pain
Gail Kingston
Evaluation of an occupational therapy led Paediatric Burns Telehealth Review Clinic: exploring the experience of family/carers and clinicians
Rural and Remote Health
allied health
Australia
burns
paediatrics
qualitative research
telerehabilitation.
title Evaluation of an occupational therapy led Paediatric Burns Telehealth Review Clinic: exploring the experience of family/carers and clinicians
title_full Evaluation of an occupational therapy led Paediatric Burns Telehealth Review Clinic: exploring the experience of family/carers and clinicians
title_fullStr Evaluation of an occupational therapy led Paediatric Burns Telehealth Review Clinic: exploring the experience of family/carers and clinicians
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of an occupational therapy led Paediatric Burns Telehealth Review Clinic: exploring the experience of family/carers and clinicians
title_short Evaluation of an occupational therapy led Paediatric Burns Telehealth Review Clinic: exploring the experience of family/carers and clinicians
title_sort evaluation of an occupational therapy led paediatric burns telehealth review clinic exploring the experience of family carers and clinicians
topic allied health
Australia
burns
paediatrics
qualitative research
telerehabilitation.
url https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/6887/
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