Proulx-Cabana, Stephanie, Segal, Terry Yvonne, Gregorowski, Anna et al. · Adolescent health, medicine and therapeutics · 2021 · DOI
This study asked 50 young people (ages 10-18) and their families in the UK about their experience with doctor visits done online instead of in person. Most felt prepared for the visits, found them helpful, and felt private. Many liked that they didn't have to travel and could continue seeing the same doctor, but only about one-third got to speak privately with their doctor without a parent present.
For ME/CFS patients, this study demonstrates that virtual appointments are feasible and well-received by young people and families, potentially reducing the burden of travel for severely ill patients who may experience symptom exacerbation with physical activity. The findings highlight the importance of confidential consultation space for adolescents, which has clinical and developmental implications for their healthcare experience and engagement.
This study does not establish whether virtual consultations produce better clinical outcomes compared to in-person visits, nor does it prove that virtual visits improve disease management or symptom outcomes in ME/CFS specifically. The cross-sectional design and lack of control group mean we cannot determine causation or compare effectiveness against alternative consultation formats.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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