ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate telemedicine for monitoring patients with home enteral nutrition. An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study, with intentional non-probability sampling, was conducted between January and June, 2020. The patients included were the ones with difficulty to have access to home care by professionals face-to-face. The study conducted a telephone satisfaction survey assessing age, gender, diagnosis, subjective global assessment (SGA) in the different communications with the patient, adherence to nutritional indication, patient satisfaction and complications. Complications were classified as related and unrelated to home enteral nutritional support (SNED). Eighteen patients with various medical diagnoses were included. 80 communications were made with a total of 2370 days of follow-up (131.7 +or- 63.7 days/patient). SGA (n = 80): 33.75% (n = 27) were well nourished, 58.75% (n = 47) at risk of malnutrition, and 7.5% (n = 6) had severe malnutrition. 97.5% (n = 78) complied 100% with the nutritional prescription and 2.5% (n = 2) respected it by 50%. At the end of the study, all were able to fulfil it. 15 adverse events were observed: 8 related to SNED and 7 unrelated. Two patients died during follow-up due to their underlying pathology. Satisfaction: 72.22% (n = 13) defined general care as very good, and 27.78% (n = 5) as excellent. In relation to professional care, it was found that 22.22% (n = 4) categorized it as excellent, 66.67% (n = 12) very good and 11.11% (n = 2) good. It was concluded that telemedicine is useful to monitor the SNED, allowing to reduce geographic inequity and improve accessibility to health care.