Connectivity of Real-Time Video Counselling Versus Telephone Counselling for Smoking Cessation in Rural and Remote Areas: An Exploratory Study

Judith Byaruhanga, Christine L. Paul, John Wiggers, Emma Byrnes, Aimee Mitchell, Christophe Lecathelinais and Flora Tzelepis
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Judith Byaruhanga: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
Christine L. Paul: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
John Wiggers: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
Emma Byrnes: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
Aimee Mitchell: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
Christophe Lecathelinais: Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Locked Mail Bag 10, Wallsend, New South Wales 2287, Australia
Flora Tzelepis: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 8, 1-12

Abstract: This study compared the connectivity of video sessions to telephone sessions delivered to smokers in rural areas and whether remoteness and video app (video only) were associated with the connectivity of video or telephone sessions. Participants were recruited into a randomised trial where two arms offered smoking cessation counselling via: (a) real-time video communication software (201 participants) or (b) telephone (229 participants). Participants were offered up to six video or telephone sessions and the connectivity of each session was recorded. A total of 456 video sessions and 606 telephone sessions were completed. There was adequate connectivity of the video intervention in terms of no echoing noise (97.8%), no loss of internet connection during the session (88.6%), no difficulty hearing the participant (88.4%) and no difficulty seeing the participant (87.5%). In more than 94% of telephone sessions, there was no echoing noise, no difficulty hearing the participant and no loss of telephone line connection. Video sessions had significantly greater odds of experiencing connectivity difficulties than telephone sessions in relation to connecting to the participant at the start (odds ratio, OR = 5.13, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.88–14.00), loss of connection during the session (OR = 11.84, 95% CI 4.80–29.22) and hearing the participant (OR = 2.53, 95% CI 1.41–4.55). There were no significant associations between remoteness and video app and connectivity difficulties in the video or telephone sessions. Real-time video sessions are a feasible option for smoking cessation providers to provide support in rural areas.

Keywords: connectivity; telemedicine; remote consultation; videoconferencing; telephone; rural (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:8:p:2891-:d:348882

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