Virtual Consultations: Young People and Their Parents’ Experience

Figures & data

Table 1 Survey Questions

Questions	Type of Questions	Possible Answers
Q1 – How many virtual appointments have you experienced since March 13th 2020?	Multiple choice question	1 2–3 4–5 6–7 >7
Q2 – What method(s) were used for the virtual appointment(s)?	Multiple answer question	Telephone Video Other (please comment)
Q3 – What professional(s) have you spoken to?	Multiple answer question	Doctor/consultant/nurse consultant Clinical nurse specialist Physiotherapist Occupational therapist Clinical psychologist Social worker Activity coordinator Other (please comment)
Q4 – What was/were the reason(s) for the virtual appointment(s)?	Multiple answer question	Chronic fatigue syndrome Medically unexplained symptoms Emotional wellbeing Medical issues Social support Other (please comment)
Q5 – Who did the professional speak to for at least part of this/these virtual appointments?	Multiple answer question	Young person alone Parents alone Parents and young person together Other (please comment)
Q6 – a) How much, using a Likert scale from 1–5, do you agree with the following statements: I felt prepared for this/these appointment(s) I found this/these appointment(s) helpful This/these virtual appointment(s) felt private/confidential I would find further virtual appointments helpful b) Do you have any other comment regarding these statements?	Likert rating scale question	Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly agree
Q7 – a) Describe what positive impact(s) the virtual method used had on the consultation: b) Describe what negative impact(s) the virtual method used had on the consultation:	Short answer question
Q8 – What did you appreciate the most about your virtual appointment(s)?	Short answer question
Q9 – What would you like to see improved for future virtual appointment(s)?	Short answer question
Q10 – Who contributed to completing this survey?	Multiple answer question	Young person Father Mother Other (please comment)

Table 2 Identified Themes Regarding Impact of Virtual Modality to the Consultation

	Themes	Number of Respondents	Quotes
Perceived impacts on the consultation
Positive	No need to travel	18/47 (38%)	“These appointments have been really helpful and have had the added benefit that we haven’t needed to travel, which can be difficult when my child has CFS. Thank you”
	Continuity of care/support during COVID-19 lock-down	17/47 (36%)	“The virtual method has helped to keep my daughters care going when we have been unable to see the team.”
	Less stressful	6/47 (13%)	“It has saved me stress on coming into the actual hospital”
Negative	None reported	16/41 (39%)	“We didn’t find a negative, the people we spoke to were very good at explaining things to us, especially the physiotherapist who had to explain exercises.”
	Not seeing the person’s face/no body language	7/41 (17%)	“[It] loses visual clues and is more challenging to build relationship with the doctor and patient”
	Difficulty to build therapeutic relationship/Less personal	6/41 (15%)	“There is still a lack of connection and safety, but that is only due to the technology not the people”
	Bad connection/Technical Issues	5/41 (12%)	“The connection kept dropping so this made the whole process pretty challenging.”
Desired improvements for future virtual appointment
	Nothing to improve	18/32 (56%)	“For them to continue unless a medical examination is needed”
	Providing good quality video call	11/32 (34%)	“A safe video link and a good connectivity on both sides will improve the system tremendously.”

Notes: 47/50 respondents provided at least one answer for positive impacts and 41/50 respondents provided at least one answer for negative impacts. 3 most common positive and 4 most common negative themes are presented. Only 32/50 participants provided an answer for desired improvement to virtual consultation.