Telehealth and Technology for Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinics: Staff Perspectives from South Auckland, New Zealand

Table 1

The impact of teleclinics on the ability to work collaboratively with patients.

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Potential positive impacts of teleclinics

“Sometimes, if the women aren’t face-to-face...there’s a bit of anonymity, you can sometimes get more from them.” (Midwife)
“Some people might feel intimidated face-to-face in front of people but feel a bit more empowered when they are…at home or with their whānau (family).” (Obstetrician)

Potential negative impacts of teleclinics

“You cannot really build rapport with a disembodied voice.” (Physician)
“You cannot see whether or not they are engaged in the conversation or are they just saying ‘yes, doctor.’” (Obstetrician)
“It takes longer to describe more complex information, and you do not have nonverbal feedback quite as clearly as you would in a face-to-face setting.” (Obstetrician)

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