Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare > Volume 14, Number 3 > Pp. 140-142

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by McCrossan, B. A Articles by Casey, F. A PubMed PubMed Citation Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

PAPERS

Home support for children with complex congenital heart disease using videoconferencing via broadband: initial results

Brian A McCrossan , Brian Grant, Gareth J Morgan, Andrew J Sands, Brian Craig and Frank A Casey

Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

Correspondence: Dr Brian A McCrossan, Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Falls Road, Belfast BT 12 6BE, UK (Fax: +44 28 9063 2878; Email: brianmccrossan{at}doctors.org.uk)

We originally developed a home support service for babies with complex congenital heart disease, in which videoconferencing was delivered via three ISDN lines. We have now investigated the feasibility of using broadband (Internet protocol) transmission instead of ISDN lines. Five patients were enrolled (age range 14–58 days) and 78 videoconferences were conducted over a six-month period. In 70 videoconferences (90%), a successful connection was established at the first attempt. In the last 56 videoconferences a connection bandwidth of 256 kbit/s was consistently achieved. The clinician's opinions of the videoconferences were good. Parental opinions on the videoconferences were very high. There was also a significant reduction in parental anxiety following the video consultations: the median reduction in the STAI score was 6 points (P < 0.05) (n = 78). Home support for infants or children with complex congenital heart disease can be provided successfully by video consultations utilizing home broadband links.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?