AUTHOR=Michel Janet , Mettler Annette , Starvaggi Carl , Travaglini Nicola , Aebi Christoph , Keitel Kristina , Sauter Thomas C. 

TITLE=The Utility of a Pediatric COVID-19 Online Forward Triage Tool in Switzerland

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.902072

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.902072

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Background: To offset the burden on the health system, hospitals set up telehealth interventions, such as online forward triage tools (OFTT). Www.coronabambini.ch was developed to specifically address the needs of children and their families in Switzerland and to facilitate the decision to test, isolate, attend school or access the health care system.
Methods: Video interviews were held with key informants (n=20) from a population of parents, teachers, guardians as well as doctors that had used the child specific COVID-19 OFTT and had consented to a further study. Convenience and quota sampling were done to include a variety of key informants. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed for themes.
Results: Three main themes emerged; i) the usefulness of the OFTT to the users ii) expectation management and importance of stakeholder involvement in OFTT development and iii) OFTT limitations. 
Conclusion: Our study highlights opportunities, limitations, and lessons to consider when developing a pediatric COVID-19 OFTT. The involvement of stakeholders, parents, teachers and health care providers in the design, set up, implementation and evaluation of telehealth interventions is critical, as this can help with expectation management and enhance OFTT utility.