Videoconferencing for the Management of Paediatric Dyspnoea in an Emergency Medical Call Centre

Launched by POITIERS UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL · Feb 21, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how effective video calls can be for assessing and managing children who have difficulty breathing, also known as dyspnoea, when they call an emergency medical call center. Dyspnoea is a common issue in emergency care, especially among young children, and can often lead to hospital visits. The goal of the trial is to see if using telemedicine—where doctors can see and talk to patients through video—can improve how well these children are triaged and managed, helping to ensure they receive the right care at the right time.

To participate in this trial, children must be between 3 months and 5 years old and need to be experiencing breathing difficulties as reported by a parent during a call to the emergency center. The parent must have a smartphone or tablet with a camera for the video call, and they will need to give permission for the child to be part of the study. Participants can expect to have their breathing assessed through a video call, which might help in making better decisions about their care. It’s important to note that this study will not include children who are in life-threatening situations or those who cannot communicate clearly during the call.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Children aged between 3 months to 5 years
• • Call from parent(s) to an EMCC for dyspnea or shortness of breath or difficulty breathing as main complaint
• • Parent or witness with a phone/tablet equipped with a camera
• • Emergency consent or oral consent given by the holder(s) of parental authority to the physician dispatcher
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Child in life-saving emergency
• • Known absence of a telephone network required for the use of video calls
• • Call made by an individual who does not hold parental authority
• • Communication difficulties with the holder(s) of parental authority, not allowing for a clear and fair information
• • Person not benefiting from a social security scheme or through a third party
• • Child who has already participated in the study