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Telemedicine experience between two hospitals from Angola and Spain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2020

Eva Gil-Olivas
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, P° Vall d'Hebron 119-129, Barcelona08035, Spain Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Angola
Fernando Salvador*
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, P° Vall d'Hebron 119-129, Barcelona08035, Spain
Milagros Moreno
Affiliation:
Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Angola
Cristina Bocanegra
Affiliation:
Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Angola Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
María Luisa Aznar
Affiliation:
Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Angola Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Alberto Filipe
Affiliation:
Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Angola
Agostinho Pessela
Affiliation:
Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Angola
Raquel Mª Mateus
Affiliation:
Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Angola
Adriano Zacarias
Affiliation:
Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Angola
Teresa López
Affiliation:
Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Angola
Yolima Cossio
Affiliation:
Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
Adrián Sánchez-Montalvá
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, P° Vall d'Hebron 119-129, Barcelona08035, Spain
Pau Bosch-Nicolau
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, P° Vall d'Hebron 119-129, Barcelona08035, Spain
Israel Molina
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, P° Vall d'Hebron 119-129, Barcelona08035, Spain
*
Author for correspondence: Fernando Salvador, E-mail: fmsalvad@vhebron.net

Abstract

Objective

Telemedicine uses information and communication technologies to provide services in the field where the distance is a critical factor. The aim of the present study is to describe the experience of a synchronous telemedicine between two hospitals in Spain and Angola.

Methods

This is a retrospective observational study of all synchronous telemedicine sessions conducted between the Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz in Angola and the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital in Spain from January 2011 to December 2014.

Results

Seventy-two cases were discussed in the telemedicine sessions. The average age of patients was 18.02 (SD 13.75) years and mostly women (54.38 percent). Reasons to discuss the cases were 46.47 percent doubts in the diagnosis and therapeutic management, 15.47 percent were purely formative cases, and only 8.45 percent treatment doubt. At the time of presentation, 29 percent of the patients were already diagnosed, 95 percent of whom with infectious disease diagnostic, and from the undiagnosed patients 36 percent presented a febrile syndrome.

Conclusion

This study shows the viability of synchronous telemedicine between European and African countries without an excessively sophisticated technology.

Type
Assessment
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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