TACTILE : Validation of a Teleconsultation-Based Predictive Score for the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis in Children Using Artificial Intelligence Methods

Several clinical prediction models exist for pediatric appendicitis; however, most require laboratory or imaging data and are not suitable for telemedicine settings. To address this limitation, a teleconsultation-oriented diagnostic checklist was developed using a Delphi consensus methodology. The checklist includes 10 items: three symptom-related questions (pain location, fever, upper digestive symptoms) and seven simple clinical examination items, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 16. This prospective, single-center study will be conducted in the pediatric emergency department of Angers University Hospital, France. Children aged 3 to 16 years presenting with non-specific abdominal pain will be eligible. During the emergency visit, a medical student will guide the child and parent through the checklist in conditions simulating a teleconsultation. The score will be recorded for research purposes only and will not influence clinical management. All participants will subsequently undergo standard medical evaluation and management by an emergency physician, who will independently assess the probability of acute appendicitis based on routine clinical practice. Parents and clinicians will complete questionnaires evaluating feasibility, acceptability, and perceived usefulness of the teleconsultation-based assessment. Participants will be followed for 15 days to establish the final diagnosis of appendicitis or alternative conditions, using hospital medical records or structured follow-up questionnaires for patients discharged home.