To compare antibiotic prescribing and guideline-concordant management for telemedicine visits versus in-person visits for children with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs), highlighting the significance of this comparison.
Key Findings:
Telemedicine visits were associated with different rates of antibiotic prescribing compared to in-person visits, with specific percentages to be detailed.
Guideline-concordant care was evaluated, showing potential differences in quality between telemedicine and in-person consultations.
The study included diverse primary care practices across 45 US states.
Interpretation:
The findings suggest that telemedicine may influence antibiotic prescribing practices and adherence to clinical guidelines for pediatric ARTIs, warranting further investigation into quality of care and its implications for future research.
Limitations:
Retrospective design may limit causal inferences.
Data could not distinguish between audio-only and audio-video telemedicine visits.
Exclusions of certain ARTI episodes may affect generalizability, and potential biases in data collection should be considered.
Conclusion:
Telemedicine has the potential to provide effective care for pediatric ARTIs, but its impact on antibiotic prescribing and adherence to guidelines needs careful evaluation, emphasizing the need for further studies to validate these findings.
by Kristin N. Ray, Samuel R. Wittman, Mary Kate Kelly, Janani Ramachandran, Kristin Davis, Donna Harris, Jennifer Steffes, Frances M. Biel, Everly Macario, Brigit A. Hatch, Julia E. Szymczak, Dara D. Méndez, Jonathan G. Yabes, Robert Grundmeier, Alexander G. Fiks
