@Article{info:doi/10.2196/43707,
author="Gavin, Kathleen M
and Kreitzberg, Daniel
and Gaudreau, Yvette
and Cruz, Marisa
and Bauer, Timothy A",
title="Identification and Management of Thyroid Dysfunction Using At-Home Sample Collection and Telehealth Services: Retrospective Analysis of Real-World Data",
journal="J Med Internet Res",
year="2023",
month="May",
day="30",
volume="25",
pages="e43707",
keywords="telemedicine; consumer-initiated testing; dried blood spot; adult; human; access to care; monitoring; telehealth; home-based; at home; laboratory test; blood test; thyroid; screening",
abstract="Background: Programs aimed at modernizing thyroid care by pairing at-home sample collection methods with telehealth options may serve an important and emerging role in thyroid care. Objective: The primary objective of this analysis was to evaluate telehealth use, demographics, and clinical characteristics of a cohort of consumer-initiated at-home laboratory thyroid test users who were also offered the option of follow-up telehealth consultations. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of real-world data from a deidentified consumer database of home-collected, mail-in thyroid tests used from March to May 2021 (N=8152). The mean age was 38.6 (range 18-85) years, and 86.6{\%} (n=7061) of individuals identified as female. Results: In total, 7{\%} (n=587) of test takers fell into a thyroid dysfunction category (overt hypothyroidism: n=75, 0.9{\%}; subclinical hypothyroidism: n=236, 2.9{\%}; overt hyperthyroidism: n=5, 0.1{\%}; and subclinical hyperthyroidism: n=271, 3.3{\%}). Overall, 12{\%} (n=984) of the overall sample opted into a telehealth consultation, with 91.8{\%} (n=903) receiving a nontreatment telehealth consultation and 8.2{\%} (n=81) receiving a treatment telemedicine consultation. Furthermore, 16{\%} (n=96) of individuals with overt or subclinical thyroid dysfunction engaged in telehealth consultations. The majority of treatment consultations (59.3{\%}, n=48) were conducted with people reporting a history of thyroid issues, with 55.6{\%} (n=45) of people indicating wanting to discuss their current thyroid medication and 48{\%} (n=39) receiving a prescription medication. Conclusions: The combination of at-home sample collection and telehealth is an innovative model for screening thyroid disorders, monitoring thyroid function, and increasing access to care, which can be implemented at a large scale and across a wide range of age groups. ",
issn="1438-8871",
doi="10.2196/43707",
url="https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e43707",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/43707",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37252757"
}