Evaluating the feasibility of a tele-diagnostic auditory brainstem response service in a rural context.

IF 1 Q3 AUDIOLOGY & SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
Divhanani Sithi, Samantha M Govender, Thembelihle S Ntuli
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background:  There is a noticeable gap in access to audiology services in South Africa, and the gap is intensified in rural areas. Often, primary healthcare (PHC) facilities have an unequal ratio of audiologists to patients in need. Telehealth can expand the range of hearing healthcare services.

Objectives:  This study aimed to determine whether, for infants, tele-diagnostic Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) assessment results conducted within a mobile clinic van are comparable to face-to-face diagnostic ABR results in rural Winterveldt, Pretoria North, South Africa.

Method:  The study utilised a quantitative, prospective cross-sectional comparative within-subject design. Each participant received both face-to-face and mobile tele-diagnostic ABR tests, which were then compared to evaluate the feasibility of mobile tele-diagnostic ABR testing. The Student's t-test was used to determine whether there was a difference between face-to-face and tele-diagnostic tests, and Bland -Altman plots were used to assess the level of agreement between the ABR testing results.

Results:  There was a strong correlation (p  0.001) between face-to-face and mobile tele-diagnostic ABR test results for both neurological and audiological ABR tests. The study found that there was no statistical significance between face-to-face and tele-diagnostic ABR measures; additionally, the results were within clinically acceptable and normative measures.

Conclusion:  Tele-diagnostic ABR offered within a mobile clinic van is feasible as it produces similar and clinically acceptable results when compared to the traditional assessment method.Contribution: This feasibility study is a positive indicator that tele-diagnostic ABR testing through a mobile clinic van may be considered to accelerate the delivery of hearing healthcare services to the infant population in rural communities.

评估农村地区远程诊断听觉脑干反应服务的可行性。
背景: 南非在获得听力服务方面存在明显差距,而在农村地区,这种差距更加明显。通常情况下,初级医疗保健(PHC)机构的听力学家与有需要的病人比例不平等。远程医疗可以扩大听力保健服务的范围: 本研究旨在确定在南非比勒陀利亚北部 Winterveldt 农村地区,在流动诊所车内对婴儿进行的听性脑干反应(ABR)远程诊断评估结果是否与面对面的 ABR 诊断结果具有可比性: 研究采用了定量、前瞻性横断面受试者内比较设计。每位受试者都接受了面对面和移动远程诊断 ABR 测试,然后对测试结果进行比较,以评估移动远程诊断 ABR 测试的可行性。学生 t 检验用于确定面对面测试和远程诊断测试之间是否存在差异,布兰德-阿尔特曼图用于评估 ABR 测试结果之间的一致程度: 在神经学和听力学 ABR 测试中,面对面和移动远程诊断 ABR 测试结果之间存在很强的相关性(p 0.001)。研究发现,面对面和远程诊断 ABR 测试结果之间不存在统计学意义;此外,测试结果均在临床可接受和常模范围内: 结论:在流动诊所车内提供远程诊断 ABR 是可行的,因为与传统评估方法相比,它能产生类似且临床可接受的结果:这项可行性研究是一个积极的指标,表明可以考虑通过流动诊所车进行远程诊断 ABR 测试,以加快向农村社区的婴儿人口提供听力保健服务。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS AUDIOLOGY & SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY-
CiteScore
2.10
自引率
36.40%
发文量
37
审稿时长
30 weeks
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