ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology

ISPAD Jenious Group. Pediatr Diabetes. 2021;22:1115-1119. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34741569/

Brief Summary: This cross-sectional survey describes healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) experiences of telemedicine use in diabetes centers across the world, along with the adaptations and challenges associated with its implementation.

This is one out of several publications reporting data on the emerging role of telemedicine in diabetes as well as other specialties during the COVID-19 pandemic. Diabetes is well-suited for telemedicine given that the individual´s treatment data can be upload into specific platforms and shared electronically and discussed between HCPs and patients/families during video-consultations (1). The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated an ongoing process of digital transformation in healthcare and introduced new challenges and opportunities to patients/families, and HCPs (2).

This article is unique in providing an overview of the experience with the use of telemedicine and related positive aspects as well as drawbacks, worldwide through a collection of data from 209 HCPs from 33 countries, all members of the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD). The results of the survey convincingly show that the proportion of young people with diabetes receiving telemedicine visits increased worldwide from <10% (pre-pandemic) to >50% (during the pandemic).

Although HCPs’ satisfaction with the use of telemedicine was high (over 80%), they highlighted the need for several changes, such as an increase in specific privacy requirements for remote visits, data protection policies and reimbursement for remote care. In addition, challenges with the use of different platforms and the need of extra-time for video-consultations remain to be solved.

References: 1. Danne T, Limbert C. COVID-19, type 1 diabetes, and technology: why pediatric patients are leading the way. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2020;8:465–467. 2. Wake DJ, Gibb FW, Kar P, et al. Endocrinology in the time of COVID19: remodelling diabetes services and emerging innovation. Eur J Endocrinol. 2020;183:G67–G77.