Michel, Janet; Mettler, Annette; Müller, Martin; Hautz, Wolf E; Sauter, Thomas C (2022). A Utility Framework for COVID-19 Online Forward Triage Tools: A Swiss Telehealth Case Study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(9) MDPI 10.3390/ijerph19095184
|
Text
ijerph-19-05184-v2.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY). Download (1MB) | Preview |
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic caused a surge in online tools commonly known as symptom checkers. The purpose of these symptom checkers was mostly to reduce the health system burden by providing worried people with testing criteria, where to test and how to self-care. Technical, usability and organizational challenges with regard to online forward triage tools have also been reported. Very few of these online forward triage tools have been evaluated. Evidence for decision frameworks may be of particular value in a pandemic setting where time frames are restricted, uncertainties are ubiquitous and the evidence base is changing rapidly. The objective was to develop a framework to evaluate the utility of COVID-19 online forward triage tools. The development of the online forward triage tool utility framework was conducted in three phases. The process was guided by the socio-ecological framework for adherence that states that patient (individual), societal and broader structural factors affect adherence to the tool. In a further step, pragmatic incorporation of themes on the utility of online forward triage tools that emerged from our study as well as from the literature was performed. Seven criteria emerged; tool accessibility, reliability as an information source, medical decision-making aid, allaying fear and anxiety, health system burden reduction, onward forward transmission reduction and systems thinking (usefulness in capacity building, planning and resource allocation, e.g., tests and personal protective equipment). This framework is intended to be a starting point and a generic tool that can be adapted to other online forward triage tools beyond COVID-19. A COVID-19 online forward triage tool meeting all seven criteria can be regarded as fit for purpose. How useful an OFTT is depends on its context and purpose.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
|---|---|
Division/Institute: |
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine and Anaesthesiology (DINA) > University Emergency Center |
UniBE Contributor: |
Michel, Janet, Mettler, Annette, Müller, Martin (B), Hautz, Wolf, Sauter, Thomas Christian |
Subjects: |
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health |
ISSN: |
1660-4601 |
Publisher: |
MDPI |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Pubmed Import |
Date Deposited: |
17 May 2022 08:35 |
Last Modified: |
29 Mar 2023 23:38 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.3390/ijerph19095184 |
PubMed ID: |
35564576 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: |
COVID-19 evaluation framework online forward triage tools telehealth utility |
BORIS DOI: |
10.48350/170045 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/170045 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit item |