Effectiveness of Telehealth in Antenatal Care at Health Promoting Hospital, Regional Health Promotion Center 3, Nakhon Sawan
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: People worldwide have been greatly affected by the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. According to this pandemic, the Ministry of Public Health has a proactive plan to reduce hospital overcrowding; the author developed and implemented a new antenatal care schedule integrating telehealth across all models of pregnancy care.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of telehealth in antenatal care at Health Promoting Hospital, Regional Health Promotion Center 3, Nakhon Sawan
METHODS: The author analyzed routinely collected health data using a quasi-experimental retrospective study. The author assessed the impact of telehealth integration into antenatal care across low-risk care models; the author collected data from both groups from medical records and compared the outcomes. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and independent t-test.
RESULTS: Women gave birth during the conventional and telehealth-integrated care periods. Overall, no significant differences were identified in the combined care period regarding the number of babies with low birth weight (birthweight below 2500 gm), the number of stillbirths, fetal growth restriction, and maternal and fetal complications. Telehealth-integrated antenatal care would be appropriate for pregnant women, including safety and effectiveness.
CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth-integrated antenatal care reduced overcrowding in hospitals without bad pregnancy outcomes. This care model can help to minimize in-person interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic but should also be considered in post-pandemic healthcare models.
Thaiclinicaltrials.org number, TCTR20221026001
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