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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
INVESTIGATING THE SATISFACTION
OF CLINICIANS AND CLIENTS
IN A TELEAUDIOLOGY TRIAL
1
University of Queensland, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Brisbane, Australia
2
HearCheck, Maroochydore, Australia
A - Research concept and design; B - Collection and/or assembly of data; C - Data analysis and interpretation; D - Writing the article; E - Critical revision of the article; F - Final approval of article;
Publication date: 2018-12-31
Corresponding author
Carlie Driscoll
Assoc/Prof Carlie Driscoll, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. Tel: +61 7 3365 3095, E-mail: carlie.driscoll@uq.edu.au
Assoc/Prof Carlie Driscoll, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. Tel: +61 7 3365 3095, E-mail: carlie.driscoll@uq.edu.au
J Hear Sci 2018;8(4):34–47
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Thus far, the uptake of telehealth in Australia has been puzzlingly small in scale and sporadic in nature. This is particularly true of audiology. The current study aimed to investigate the satisfaction of clinicians and clients with audiology appointments in a trial of the telehealth mode.
Material and Methods:
A mixed-methods study design was utilised involving surveys with all appointment participants and semi-structured post-appointment interviews with clients. Appointments were conducted with 11 individual clients; of these, 7 interviews were conducted. One audiologist and one allied health assistant were used for all appointments.
Results:
High satisfaction ratings overall were given by both clients (87.3% excellent) and the allied health assistant (74.4% excellent), whereas the audiologist consistently provided slightly lower levels of satisfaction (72.7% good). It was also found that the audiologist believed that teleaudiology increased the quality of care offered.
Conclusions:
By examining the perspectives of all key stakeholders, this study identifies a number of novel positive and negative aspects of a teleaudiology practice and offers suggestions for future implementation of such a program.
Thus far, the uptake of telehealth in Australia has been puzzlingly small in scale and sporadic in nature. This is particularly true of audiology. The current study aimed to investigate the satisfaction of clinicians and clients with audiology appointments in a trial of the telehealth mode.
Material and Methods:
A mixed-methods study design was utilised involving surveys with all appointment participants and semi-structured post-appointment interviews with clients. Appointments were conducted with 11 individual clients; of these, 7 interviews were conducted. One audiologist and one allied health assistant were used for all appointments.
Results:
High satisfaction ratings overall were given by both clients (87.3% excellent) and the allied health assistant (74.4% excellent), whereas the audiologist consistently provided slightly lower levels of satisfaction (72.7% good). It was also found that the audiologist believed that teleaudiology increased the quality of care offered.
Conclusions:
By examining the perspectives of all key stakeholders, this study identifies a number of novel positive and negative aspects of a teleaudiology practice and offers suggestions for future implementation of such a program.
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