Caregiver Perspectives on Telemedicine for Postdischarge Care for Children With Medical Complexity: A Qualitative Study.
Jennifer M Frush, David Y Ming, Nancy Crego and 5 others
PMID 36670018WHAT IT FOUND
Caregivers of children with medical complexity found post-discharge video visits helpful for managing care at home.
They valued the convenience and direct access to the team, which supported their decision-making and confidence. However, they noted in-person visits remained necessary for physical exams.
Key findings
01All caregivers reported that telemedicine video visits were helpful or beneficial for post-discharge care.
02Video visits supported caregiver self-efficacy by allowing them to demonstrate caregiving skills and receive validation from the clinical team.
03Caregivers identified limitations in video visits, specifically the inability to perform physical examinations or immediate medical tests, meaning in-person visits were still required in some instances.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted at a single center, which limits generalizability. Participants were caregivers of children already receiving longitudinal care within a structured complex care program, so findings may not apply to families without this level of support. The sample was limited to caregivers with the necessary technology (smart device, internet, patient portal) and digital literacy, potentially excluding those facing disparities in telehealth access. The study was completed prior to the widespread adoption of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, so participants may have been less experienced with this modality than current families.
Declared interests
The authors declared no financial relationships or potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the 100% helpfulness rating as evidence that video visits are a complete replacement for in-person care. Caregivers explicitly stated that physical examinations and immediate testing were not possible via video, so in-person visits remain necessary for specific clinical assessments.