Table 3 List of Indicators and Measures
From: The effects of a regional telepathology project: a study protocol
Construct | ||
|---|---|---|
Dimension | Question | |
SYSTEM QUALITY | ||
Ease of use | Generally speaking, the telepathology system is easy to use. | |
It is easy to master the telepathology system functionalities. | ||
The graphical interfaces of the telepathology system are clear and easy to understand. | ||
It is easy to find slides from the other facilities in the telepathology system. | ||
It is easy to send slides and information to other facilities using telepathology. | ||
Screen quality | The PC screens available in our facility are of acceptable quality. | |
The screens dedicated to the telepathology system are of acceptable quality. | ||
The quality of the screens encourages me to use the telepathology system. | ||
Systems integration | The telepathology system and the laboratory information system (LIS) are well integrated. | |
The telepathology system, the LIS and the dictation subsystem are well integrated. | ||
Joint use of the telepathology system/LIS/dictation subsystem makes the work easier. | ||
When the data on a patient come from different facilities, the telepathology/LIS systems provide well-integrated information. | ||
When the data on a patient come from different facilities, the telepathology system/LIS/dictation subsystem provide well-integrated information. | ||
Reliability | The telepathology system is rarely offline because of technology breakdowns. | |
Unexpected service outages of the telepathology system rarely occur. | ||
Use of the telepathology system is uninterrupted because it is bug-free. | ||
Accessibility | We have a sufficient number of telepathology work stations. | |
I have rarely had to wait for access to a work station in order to use the telepathology system. | ||
I have easy access to the telepathology system from my home computer. | ||
Response time | I have the impression that slides are digitized quickly. | |
I have the impression that the macroscopic images are fluid. | ||
I have the impression that the microscopic images download quickly. | ||
We have quick access to images from other facilities. | ||
Setting aside image acquisition, the telepathology system responds quickly. | ||
Perceived Usefulness | Overall, the telepathology system provides a complete range of functionalities that support my work as a professional. | |
My clinical practices are very well harmonized with the telepathology system. | ||
Using the telepathology system is compatible with all aspects of my tasks. | ||
INFORMATION QUALITY | ||
Data quality | The slide images produced locally in my facility are: • Complete • Reliable and precise • Well organized and carefully presented • Available in a timely manner • Secure and confidential | |
The slide images produced externally in other facilities are: • Complete • Reliable and precise • Well organized and carefully presented • Available in a timely manner • Secure and confidential | ||
SERVICE QUALITY | ||
Technical support | The pilots or super-users in my hospital who provide technical assistance for the telepathology system: • Are easy to reach • Provide quick service • Are competent • Pay attention to user needs • Are able to find satisfactory solutions | |
The staff from the regional support centre who provide technical assistance for the telepathology system: • Are easy to reach • Provide quick service • Are competent • Pay attention to user needs • Are able to find satisfactory solutions | ||
Training | I am satisfied with the training I received on using the telepathology system. | |
I learned how to use the telepathology system properly because of the training I received. | ||
I apply what I have learned during my training on the telepathology system. | ||
I can better use the telepathology system because of the training I received. | ||
USER SATISFACTION | ||
Overall, my experience using the telepathology system has been satisfactory. | ||
I enjoy using the telepathology system in my work. | ||
Overall, examining digitized slides on a monitor is more satisfying than examining glass slides with a microscope. | ||
Being able to obtain a second opinion via the telepathology system satisfies me greatly. | ||
Being able to perform intraoperative frozen section analyses via telepathology satisfies me greatly. | ||
Being able to obtain an intraoperative rapid diagnosis via telepathology satisfies me greatly. | ||
Being able to use the telepathology system for immunohistochemistry cases satisfies me greatly. | ||
USE | ||
Breadth | I use a wide range of the telepathology system's functionalities. | |
Type | How often do you... | |
...use the telepathology system to fulfill your functions? | ||
...use the telepathology system to get/provide a second opinion? | ||
...use the telepathology system to get/provide a intraoperative frozen section diagnosis? | ||
...use the telepathology system for immunochemistry cases? | ||
BENEFITS | ||
Individual impacts | Using the telepathology system improves the quality of my diagnoses. | |
The telepathology system improves my confidence level when I perform some surgical procedures. | ||
Some of my surgical procedures are less invasive because of the telepathology system. | ||
Using the telepathology system saves me some of the time I used to spend moving about. | ||
The telepathology system reduces my sense of professional isolation. | ||
Organizational impacts | Quality | The telepathology system's tracking mode reduces the risk of medical errors. |
The quality of patient care is improved because of the telepathology system. | ||
Efficiency | The telepathology system reduces the time between a surgical procedure and the availability of a preliminary report. | |
The telepathology system reduces the time between the moment a slide is available for reading and the final diagnosis. | ||
Effectiveness | The telepathology system reduces the number of surgical procedures postponed due to a lack of pathologists. | |
The telepathology system reduces the number of surgical procedures performed in two stages. | ||
Retention/ Recruitment | The telepathology system helps retain workers from different pathology professions (pathologists, pathology technologists, etc.) in our facility. | |
The telepathology system helps recruit workers in different pathology professions for our region. | ||
The telepathology system makes the various pathology professions more attractive. | ||
Regional impacts | Accessibility | The telepathology system has improved the accessibility of pathology services. |
The pathology coverage rate is improved because of telepathology. | ||
Fewer patients are transferred to regional or tertiary sites because of telepathology. | ||
Continuity | Patients enjoy improved continuity of care because of telepathology. | |