Virtual fracture liaison clinics in the COVID era: an initiative to maintain fracture prevention services during the pandemic associated with positive patient experience.
Osteoporos Int
; 32(6): 1221-1226, 2021 Jun.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1081479
ABSTRACT
We introduced virtual fracture liaison clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to support clinical care while DXA services were down-turned. We observed that virtual FLS clinics are effective in delivering fracture risk assessment, health promotion, and clinical management and are well received by patients with positive patient experience. INTRODUCTION:
We examined the impact of virtual FLS telephone clinics, as an alternative to face-to-face clinics during the COVID-19 lockdown.METHODS:
Patients presenting with low trauma fracture were recruited according to standard criteria. A structured telephone clinic appointment was offered, which included fracture risk and health promotion assessment and a treatment plan. Risk factors, demographics, fracture type, FRAX scores, and outcomes were analysed. We assessed patient experience with an anonymised patient survey.RESULTS:
Clinical outcomes from virtual clinics were assessed (77F/33M; mean age 65.7 years). The mean 10-year observed fracture risk for major osteoporotic fracture was 18.2% and 7.0% for hip fracture. We observed high 'attendance' rates at 79%; however, a significant number were still not available for telephone review (11%) or cancelled their appointment (10%). A recommendation for bisphosphonate treatment was made in 54% of the cohort based on National Osteoporosis Guidelines Group (NOGG) criteria. Follow-up DXA assessment is planned for 64%, according to fracture risk and NOGG guidance. We received 60 responses from the initial patient survey. Ninety percent rated their overall experience of service at 4 or 5 (very good to excellent). Ninety-eight indicated they would recommend the service to others.CONCLUSIONS:
Virtual clinics are effective in delivery of fracture risk assessment and clinical management with positive patient experience. While a significant proportion will require DXA follow-up to complete the clinical assessment, virtual clinics have mitigated delays in fracture prevention interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Osteoporotic Fractures
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Osteoporos Int
Journal subject:
Metabolism
/
Orthopedics
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S00198-021-05882-x
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