Table 2.
Clinical and feasibility evaluation of telemedicine consultations in patients who were referred to specialists for headaches.
| Consultation form |
|
Telemedicine, N=200 | Traditional, N=202 | P-value |
| Clinical variables |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in diagnosis, n (%) | 43 (21.5) | 40 (19.8) | .77 |
|
|
Additional diagnosis, n (%) | 109 (54.5) | 118 (58.4) | .49 |
|
|
Additional MRI/CT, n (%) | 74 (37.0) | 70 (34.7) | .70 |
|
|
Nonpharmacologic advice, n (%) | 162 (81.0) | 170 (84.6) | .41 |
|
|
Prescriptions, n (%) | 164 (82.0) | 166 (82.2) | 1.00 |
|
|
Follow-up by GP, n (%) | 136 (68.0) | 129 (63.9) | .44 |
|
|
Follow-up by neurologist, n (%) | 6 (3.0) | 6 (3.0) | 1.00 |
| Outcome variables |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dropout, medical reasons, n (%) | 2 (1.0) | 1 (0.5) | NA |
|
|
Dropout, technical failure, n (%) | 1 (0.5) | 0 | NA |
|
|
Minor technical issues, n (%) | 21 (10.5) | NA | NA |
|
|
Satisfied with sound quality, n (%) | 198 (99.0) | NA | NA |
|
|
Satisfied with video quality, n (%) | 200 (100.0) | NA | NA |
|
|
Consultation time, min, mean (SD) | 38.8 (9.5) | 43.7 (12.3) | < .001 |
|
|
Males, min (SD) | 35.3 (8.3) | 43 (13.1) | .001 |
|
|
Females, min (SD) | 40.0 (9.6) | 44.0 (12.0) | .002 |
|
|
aPreparation to visit, min (range) | 14.0 (44) | 14.0 (29) | .56 |
GP: general practitioner; NA: not applicable; SD: standard deviation
aThe time used by the nurse before each consultation.