BMJ paediatrics open
Evaluation of virtual care services offered to children across Ontario, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic
By Rosa E, Easson N, Jamieson K and 7 others.
Abstract
Background
There is growing interest in virtual care provision to improve patient access to quality care, and while utilisation of virtual care services has increased, an evaluation of this modality of care is lacking.
Objective
The purpose of this study was to evaluate perceptions of a variety of virtual care services offered to children across Ontario throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
This perception-based evaluation included a cross-sectional study design guided by the Quintuple Aim Framework focused on population health, user experience, provider experience, cost and equity. Data were collected from 44 organisations that provided virtual care to children, 194 service providers with various specialties and 909 parents/caregivers of children who have received virtual care in Ontario. Participants completed unique online questionnaires.