Login to Access Video or Poster Abstract: MP19-20
Sources of Funding: none

Introduction

Healthcare professionals are among the last, if not the last, service providers to not use Internet technology to communicate with the people they serve. As much as patients are able to communicate with their doctors, and physicians, medical professionals will also be able to transmit data between each other; overall helping the patients' well-being. Many a times, its very difficult for patients to come from far places for stone clinic for consultation wasting a lot of time. With increased use of mobile phones, Internet and with increased skill of fast communication through handy available cell phone to almost everyone. Uncomplicated stone patients do not need detail clinical examination most of the time. Can we use these advantages in current era in providing health care at every corner of world without compromising quality of care? We could not find literature to address this issue. Aim of our study was to assess feasibility, reproducibility and accuracy of e-consultation in stone clinic and compare with standard consultation defining good practice and inform its implementation in relation to clinician-patient consultations via whatsapp and similar virtual media.

Methods

We included 30 uncomplicated stone patients who presented to endourology clinic during Jan 2016 to June 2016 according our inclusion criteria. First we did e-consultation using whatsapp and other virtual media and assessed clinical history, biochemical profile and imaging with images and communicated through media and made a provisional diagnosis and decided management plan. Then we did real consultation as standard practice and decided management plan. We compared diagnosis and management plans in this both consultations virtual and real. We graded in five grades according to difference in diagnosis and management plan.We assessed 5 point likert score also for virtual and real consultation._x000D_ Grade Description_x000D_ 1 Minor differences not affecting surgical plan_x000D_ 2 Difference that change in type of procedure_x000D_ 3 Difference that change decision for observation vs. surgery_x000D_ 4 Difference that leads to an additional procedure needed during surgery_x000D_ 5 Difference that result in potentially severe complication _x000D_

Results

There was no significant difference in diagnosis or management plan in virtual Vs real consultation. There was grade 1 change in 2 patients, grade 2 and 3 change in one patient.Five point likert scale score difference was not significantly difference.

Conclusions

Based on this pilot study, virtual consultation (e-consultation) for kidney stone patients is feasible and accurate in selected group of patients without compromising quality of care. And may be a future of endourology clinic. However, large number of study is required to define its role in future._x000D_

Funding

none