Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Innovation in internet connectivity and the Covid 19 pandemic have caused a dramatic change in the management of patients in the medical field, boosting the use of telemedicine. A comparison of clinical outcomes and satisfaction between conventional face-to-face and telemedicine follow-up in general surgery, an economic evaluation is mandatory. The aim of the present study was to compare the differences in economic costs between these two outpatient approaches in a designed randomized controlled trial (RCT).
METHODS: A RCT was conducted enrolling 200 patients to compare conventional in-person vs. digital health follow-up using telemedicine in the outpatient clinics in patients of General Surgery Department after their planned discharge. After a demonstration that no differences were found in clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction, we analyzed the medical costs, including staff wages, initial investment, patent\'s transportation and impact on social costs.
RESULTS: After an initial investment of 7527.53€, the costs for the Medical institution of in-person conventional follow-up were higher (8180.4€) than those using telemedicine (4630.06€). In relation to social costs, loss of productivity was also increased in the conventional follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of digital Health telemedicine is a cost-effective approach compared to conventional face-to-face follow-up in patients of General Surgery after hospital discharge.
METHODS: A RCT was conducted enrolling 200 patients to compare conventional in-person vs. digital health follow-up using telemedicine in the outpatient clinics in patients of General Surgery Department after their planned discharge. After a demonstration that no differences were found in clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction, we analyzed the medical costs, including staff wages, initial investment, patent\'s transportation and impact on social costs.
RESULTS: After an initial investment of 7527.53€, the costs for the Medical institution of in-person conventional follow-up were higher (8180.4€) than those using telemedicine (4630.06€). In relation to social costs, loss of productivity was also increased in the conventional follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of digital Health telemedicine is a cost-effective approach compared to conventional face-to-face follow-up in patients of General Surgery after hospital discharge.
摘要：
背景：互联网连接和Covid19大流行的创新导致了医疗领域患者管理的巨大变化，促进远程医疗的使用。普外科常规面对面和远程医疗随访的临床结果和满意度比较，经济评估是强制性的。本研究的目的是在设计的随机对照试验（RCT）中比较这两种门诊方法之间的经济成本差异。
方法：进行了RCT，招募了200名患者，以比较常规面对面与普外科患者计划出院后在门诊使用远程医疗进行数字健康随访。在证明临床结果和患者满意度没有差异后，我们分析了医疗费用，包括员工工资，初始投资，专利的运输和对社会成本的影响。
结果：在初始投资7527.53欧元后，医疗机构面对面常规随访的费用（8180.4€）高于使用远程医疗的费用（4630.06€）。关于社会成本，在传统的后续行动中，生产力的损失也增加了。
结论：与出院后普外科患者的常规面对面随访相比，使用数字健康远程医疗是一种具有成本效益的方法。
方法：进行了RCT，招募了200名患者，以比较常规面对面与普外科患者计划出院后在门诊使用远程医疗进行数字健康随访。在证明临床结果和患者满意度没有差异后，我们分析了医疗费用，包括员工工资，初始投资，专利的运输和对社会成本的影响。
结果：在初始投资7527.53欧元后，医疗机构面对面常规随访的费用（8180.4€）高于使用远程医疗的费用（4630.06€）。关于社会成本，在传统的后续行动中，生产力的损失也增加了。
结论：与出院后普外科患者的常规面对面随访相比，使用数字健康远程医疗是一种具有成本效益的方法。
