ABSTRACT
Background@#Telemedicine has the potential of bridging the gap and achieving equity in receiving healthcare services. The department of health encouraged telemedicine using cell phones or consultations through social media platforms to decongest hospitals and reduce possible exposure to COVID‑19.@*Objectives@#This study aimed to describe the effectiveness of telemedicine in increasing the self‑efficacy of patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) in a tertiary hospital in Davao City.@*Materials and Methods@#This research was a mixed method pre‑post‑test exploratory design with two main phases: a quantitative phase of assessing the effectiveness of telemedicine in increasing self‑efficacy to patients with GTN using Strategies Used by People to Promote Health‑29, and a qualitative phase of online focus group discussions of patients and health‑care workers. Thematic analysis was applied to contextualize the experience of the participants in engaging in telemedicine in the delivery of medical services.@*Results@#Total subscale of self‑efficacy of the patients during the first consultation was high. The respondents had a high level of confidence in stress reduction and in making decisions. The respondents had a very high positive attitude. After 6 months of telemedicine, the total subscale of self‑efficacy was very high. The respondents had a high level of confidence in stress reduction and very high levels of confidence in making decision and positive attitude. The respondents had improved self‑efficacy and verbalized that telemedicine was easy and readily accessible.@*Conclusions@#Telemedicine helped the respondents improve their self‑efficacy. There was a significant difference between the baseline stress reduction and making decisions subscales after 6 months of utilizing telemedicine.
Subject(s)
Gestational Trophoblastic Disease , TelemedicineABSTRACT
@#Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia is a group of tumors which includes invasive mole, choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumor and epithelioid trophoblastic tumor, all of which develop after a recognized pregnancy. Choriocarcinoma is a highly invasive and metastatic neoplasm which arises in women of reproductive age. Local spread is reported at 15% while distant metastasis at 4%. Of the 4% of cases having distant metastasis, 60% goes to the lungs, 30% to the vagina, and 10% to other sites. Less than 5% of patients with metastatic gestational trophoblastic neoplasia have involvement of the gastrointestinal tract. This is the case of a 47-year-old multigravid patient who came in with an enlarging abdomen 8 years after she had a hydatidiform mole. Work-ups were done which revealed metastases to the colon, liver and lungs. The plan of management was to give multiple agent chemotherapy.