Your browser doesn't support javascript.
Remote monitoring of marginalised populations affected by COVID-19: a retrospective review.
Ko, Stephanie Q; Hooi, Benjamin M Y; Koo, Chieh-Yang; Chor, Daniel W P; Ling, Zheng Jye; Chee, Yen-Lin; Jen, Wei-Ying.
  • Ko SQ; Division of Advanced Internal Medicine, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Singapore.
  • Hooi BMY; Division of Advanced Internal Medicine, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Singapore.
  • Koo CY; Department of Cardiology, National University Heart Centre, Singapore.
  • Chor DWP; Department of Emergency Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
  • Ling ZJ; Department of Medical Informatics, National University Health System, Singapore.
  • Chee YL; Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore.
  • Jen WY; Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore wei_ying_jen@nuhs.edu.sg.
BMJ Open ; 10(12): e042647, 2020 12 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1004171
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES:

The COVID-19 outbreak in Singapore has largely centred around migrant worker dormitories, comprising over 90% of all cases in the country. Dormitories are home to a culturally and linguistically distinct, low-income population, without on-site healthcare after-hours. The primary objective of this study was to assess the engagement and utilisation of a simple, low-cost, accessible, mobile health solution for remote self-reporting of vital parameters in dormitory residents with COVID-19.

DESIGN:

Retrospective review of medical care.

SETTING:

Two large migrant worker dormitories with a combined population of 31 546.

PARTICIPANTS:

All COVID-19-affected residents housed in dormitories during the study period. INTERVENTION All residents were taught to use a chat assistant to self-report their temperature, heart rate and oxygen saturations. Results flowed into a dashboard, which alerted clinicians of abnormal results.

OUTCOMES:

The primary outcome measure was engagement rate. This was derived from the total number of residents who registered on the platform over the total number of COVID-19-affected residents in the dormitories during the study period. Secondary outcome measures included outcomes of the alerts and subsequent escalations of care.

RESULTS:

800 of the 931 COVID-19-affected residents (85.9%) engaged with the platform to log a total of 12 511 discrete episodes of vital signs. Among 372 abnormal readings, 96 teleconsultations were initiated, of which 7 (1.8%) were escalated to emergency services and 18 (4.9%) were triaged to earlier physical medical review on-site.

CONCLUSIONS:

A chat-assistant-based self-reporting platform is an effective and safe community-based intervention to monitor marginalised populations with distinct cultural and linguistic backgrounds, living communally and affected by COVID-19. Lessons learnt from this approach may be applied to develop safe and cost-effective telemedicine solutions across similar settings.
Subject(s)
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Transients and Migrants / Communicable Disease Control / Telemedicine / Remote Consultation / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Adult / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: BMJ Open Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bmjopen-2020-042647

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Transients and Migrants / Communicable Disease Control / Telemedicine / Remote Consultation / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Adult / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: BMJ Open Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bmjopen-2020-042647