Remote self-assessment follow-up for medical termination of pregnancy at Geneva University Hospitals: an insight into its acceptability, success rate and costs

Article Article scientifique Article Remote self-assessment follow-up for medical termination of pregnancy at Geneva University Hospitals: an insight into its acceptability, success rate and costs eng 2021-07-28 2021 author Vanetti Alessandra 935593 author Pinto Catarino Rosa Isabel 781064 author Yaron Michal 668428 w20531 10.4414/smw.2021.20531 34318911 0036-7672 https://doi.emh.ch/smw.2021.20531 Aims of the study: Remote follow-up based on self-assessment plus a telephone call with a healthcare provider is a safe and reliable method for assessing the success of medical termination of pregnancy (mTOP) and can lead to an important reduction in costs. The aim of the study was to analyse its efficacy, acceptability and associated costs. Methods: This was a retrospective comparative study analysing two follow-up protocols for home-based mTOP. A total of 201 women were included: 56 for a standard in-clinic follow-up and 145 for a remote follow-up based on self-assessment with a low-sensitivity urine pregnancy test and a questionnaire. The main outcome was the total number of outpatient consultations needed for each procedure and the associated costs (according to the Swiss tariff system); acceptability and satisfaction were assessed using questionnaires. Results: Demand for home-based termination increased by 7.8% in the observation period. There was a reduction in diagnosis of retained products of conception, with a consequent decrease of follow-up consultations from 1.47 to 0.41 appointments per patient. A reduction of 38.9% in the average cost per patient (including supplementary follow-up appointments) was observed. Moreover, the remote alternative led to higher patient satisfaction (95.1% vs 55.0%) and acceptability (84.8%). The choice for long-acting reversible contraceptives was not affected by the removal of in-person consultation. Conclusion: A remote follow-up procedure is an acceptable and less costly alternative to hospital-based follow-up with a higher rate of acceptability and adherence by the studied population. Dewey 618 58 Département de pédiatrie, gynécologie et obstétrique 223 false 590 Prévention du cancer du col utérin 933 Swiss medical weekly 151 1beac95d-ab7a-4487-8b9c-67cb4df829b7 Article (Published version) Public remote.pdf 621617 application/pdf CC BY-NC-ND-4.0 openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de pédiatrie, gynécologie et obstétrique

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Remote self-assessment follow-up for medical termination of pregnancy at Geneva University Hospitals: an insight into its acceptability, success rate and costs	Swiss medical weekly			2021	205	360

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Vanetti, Alessandra