Table 3. Main results of the included studies.
| Study ID | Period | Number of consultations | Proportions of patients by topic of consultation (%) | Proportions of patients with symptoms or exposure (%) | Types of advice given (%) | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symptoms | Prevention and Therapy | Psychological problem | Public service | Policy | Complaint and Advice | Epidemic situation and Public problem | Other | Fever | Exposure history | Fever and exposure history | High risk cases | No advice | Isolation at home | Go to hospital /clinics or call an ambulance | Not recorded or unclear | |||||
| Li 2020 (26) | 2020.01.26–02.01 | 4,120 | 64.2 | – | 10.3 | 5.6 | – | – | 14.5 | 6.4 | 12.7 | 2.3 | 0.1 | – | 84.9 | 10.6 | 4.5 | – | ||
| Zhang 2004 (27) | 2003.04.11–06.21 | 77,313 | 59.0 | 2.0 | – | – | 13.0 | 23.0 | 4.0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| Zhang 2003 (28) | 2003.05.07–05.10 | 784 | 26.7 | 31.8 | 14.9 | 21.0 | – | – | – | 5.6 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| Lu 2003 (29) | 2003.04.30–06.09 | 1,370 | – | 59.9 | 60.4 | 30.7 | 23.9 | – | – | 13.9 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| Liang 2004 (30) | 2003.04.15–05.26 | 1,019 | 62.7 | 16.1 | 9.4 | 4.0 | – | 0.9 | – | 6.9 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| Li 2005 (31) | 2003.04.07–06.10 | 511† | 19.4 | 23.3 | – | – | – | 11.2 | 5.6 | 40.5 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| Li 2005 (32) | 2004.04.23–05.09 | 985 | 25.5 | 13.0 | 4.0 | 10.1 | – | 3.1 | 24.2 | 18.3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| Kaydos-Daniels 2004 (33) | 2003.06.01–06.10 | 11,288 (Taiwan) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 51.0 | 21.0 | 28.0 | – | ||
| 1,966 (Taipei) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 19.23 | – | – | 0.9 | – | 4.2 | 12.3 | 83.6 | ||||
| Ma 2005(34) | 2003.04.18–06.30 | 14,557 | 22.3 | 17.1 | – | – | – | 0.9 | 1.7 | 58.2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
†, the total number of consultations was 590, but 79 were calls from the embassies to get information and thus were not included in the calculations. “Symptoms” included information of symptoms or physical signs of a disease. “Prevention and Therapy” included information on the measures to prevent infection, such as disinfection, isolation and ventilation, clinical treatments, drugs, and vaccination. “Psychological problems” included for example anxiety and fear. “Public services” included information of hospital or clinics, whether advise to travel or assembly. “Policy” included information of government policy on controlling the epidemic and insurance reimbursement. “Complaint and advice” included complaint or tips regarding individuals suspected to be infected, or advice to the health authorities. Epidemic situation and public problem included information of the epidemic situation in the country, and public problems raised by the epidemic. Other included information not mentioned above.