Comparison of physical examination via telemedicine technology and bed side method: Lung Examination

Telemedicine is the science of using modern technologies in providing health care services. Clinical history taking and physical examination are the main and primary components in the process of delivering medical and healthcare services. Thus ensuring the reliability of such examinations is essential in delivering medical and healthcare services through telemedicine. Therefore it is necessary to compare the findings of remote examinations with those of bedside physical examinations in order to demonstrate the reliability thereof and to ensure both the medical staff and the patient that they may safely rely on the accuracy of remote examinations. The present study examines compatibility between findings of examination of a sample of patients with pulmonary disease at Dr. MasihDaneshvari Hospital obtained both remotely and at bed side.For the purpose of this study, patients were randomly selected from various wards of Dr. MasihDaneshvari Hospital.Observation and auscultation were remotely carried out by a physician who was stationed in a separate room and filled a questionnaire. Then the same physician repeated all the physical examinations at the patient's bedside and filled a second questionnaire. Thereafter the final diagnosis was presented. There was compatibility between the results of the two methods i.e. remote and physical examination in 58 out of the total 84 studied variables of which 47 (55.95%) cased demonstrated a Kappa of 0.8 to 1, which is rated as "excellent", 10 (11.9%) cases demonstrated a Kappa of 0.6 to 0.8, which is rated as "acceptable", and one case (1.19%) demonstrated a Kappa of 0.4 to 0.6, which is rated as "moderate". There was no compatibility between the results of the two methods in 30.95 percent of the cases. The present study suggests that the results of the lung examinations conducted remotely and at bed side are compatible. This finding can further assure the medical staff and encourage them to cooperate more in performing telemedicine consultations which will in turn promote utilization of this method of medical management.