gms | German Medical Science

Background and status of (inter)national research: The role of telemedicine in outpatient care has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies about positive or negative effects of telemedicine on patients with COVID-19 are still scarce. Additionally, there is a lack of knowledge about the course of the coronavirus disease in acute and post-acute/Long COVID-19 patients in outpatient care.

Question and objective: We assess how telemedicine (medical devices and mobile app) can be implemented for patients with COVID-19 in outpatient care and how patients and physicians perceive it. Furthermore, we obtain information about the course of the coronavirus disease in patients in outpatient care.

Method or hypothesis: We conduct a multicenter pilot study from October 2020 until December 2021 with up to 500 patients. Inclusion criteria: age ≥ 18 years and positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2. Exclusion criteria: hospitalisation at the time of inclusion in the study.

Patients are recruited via general practices, emergency rooms of university medical centers, outpatient clinics for COVID-19 patients, rehabilitation clinics. Participants receive medical devices and access to a mobile health application. They measure vital signs on a daily basis and document data in the mobile app via Bluetooth or manually. Patients with an acute coronavirus infection measure oxygen saturation, body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate for at least 4 weeks. Patients with post-acute/Long COVID-19 measure parameters of lung function and number of steps per day for 12 weeks. Both groups are asked for further disease symptoms (e.g. headache, fatigue) on a regular basis. Corresponding physicians can access the data in an own account. Outreach teams coordinate and support the implementation of the telemedicine e.g. by bringing devices to patients who are under quarantine.

We use both qualitative interviews and quantitative questionnaires for evaluation of patients’ and physicians’ perceptions. The responsible Ethics Committees approved the study.

Results: At the time of submitting this abstract, 25 patients are participating in the study. First interviews with patients indicate that the telemedicine data play a relevant role in decisions regarding the treatment of COVID-19 in outpatient care. More results will be available at the time of the congress.

Discussion: We will discuss barriers and facilitators for telemedicine regarding different groups of patients and different healthcare settings.

Practical implications: As part of this study, we will develop best-practice concepts to establish telemedicine for different outpatient care settings for patients with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Appeal for practice (science and/or care) in one sentence: Telemedicine can complement outpatient care for patients with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.