Outcomes of Teleconsultation Services and Patient Satisfaction among Pregnant Women Delivering at a Tertiary Care Center in South India during Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

ABSTRACT

Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has disrupted the antenatal care in low? and middle?income countries such as India. Telemedicine was introduced for the first time in India for continuing antenatal care. Hence, a questionnaire?based descriptive cross?sectional study is done to assess the outcomes of teleconsultation services, factors influencing it, and patient’s perceived satisfaction. Three hundred and fifty?five women who delivered the following teleconsultation from July 2020 to October 2020 were included in the study. Thirty?two percent were high?risk pregnancies and 15% of the babies required neonatal intensive care unit admission. Ninety?eight percent could convey their health concerns, 18% had a referral to other departments, and 25% had visited casualty. Sixty?three percent procured medicine through e?prescription. Seventy?six percent were happy with teleconsultation overcrowded clinic, 82% were happy about saving travel expenditure, whereas overall satisfaction was 50%. Fourteen percent did not have access to smartphone and 9% did not receive the call at scheduled time. Telemedicine has a vital role in managing pregnancy concerns during this pandemic.