An Experience of Telemedicine During COVID-19 Pandemic: Follow-up of Patients with Obesity Via Phone Interviews

Abstract

Objective:Telemedicine means to provide healthcare services to remote patients using modern information technology like audio/video communications, computer and telemetry. During global Coronavirus diseases-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, home isolation was advised for general population, especially for individuals who were at higher risk for infection, like people living with obesity. Here, it was aimed to evaluate the data obtained with a telemedicine method performed for obesity center patients’ follow-ups during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period and highlight the need for alternative follow-up methods for chronic diseases like obesity during crisis times.Method:All registered obesity center patients were included in the study. Phone calls were made by the directing doctor and patients were asked about their diet compliance, exercise level, the way they felt, present weight, any problems about their accompanying diseases or obtaining their medications. Recommendations were made (healthy nutrition, hydration, home exercises, coping with distress, the necessity of home isolation, precautions needed to be taken when they have to go out). The answers were categorized and number of patients for each category were determined.Results:The number of patients that were called was 101, 86 for those who answered and 15 for those who did not respond. When their last registered weight in kg was compared with the present weight declared by the patient, 40.7% had weight gain (n=35), 50% had weight loss (n=43) and 9.3% (n=8) patients had same weight. When they were asked about their food consumption, 27.9% (n=24) of patients were following the recommended diet, 29% (n=29) were not following any recommendations about their diet and 33% (n=33) were partially following their dietary recommendations. The most common mistake was snacking throughout the day and at nighttime. When they were asked about their physical activity level, 30.2 % (n=26) of patients were doing home exercises regularly, 50% (n=43) were not exercising at all and 19.8 % (n=17) were partially doing home exercises. The most common home exercise was home-walking programmes. When they were asked how they felt, 53.5% (n=46) of patients declared to be generally good, 24.4% (n=21) were generally bad and 22.1 (n=19) were partially good. The most common complaint was sleep disturbances and anxiety.Conclusion:Telemedicine is an easy, safe and effective follow-up method for chronic diseases like obesity at extraordinary times like the pandemic period we are going through. Its application can be broader after medical and legal regulations become clear to let both the patients and the healthcare professionals who use this method be safe in all aspects.

Keywords

• covid-19 pandemic
• obesity
• telemedicine