Table 1.
Classification of the study participants (N=69) based on their appointment choice and clinic attendance metrics.
| Characteristic and Metric | Face to face | Teleconsultation | P value | ||||||
| Total patients who chose each consultation typea (N=71), n (%) | 47 (66) | 24 (34) | N/Ab | ||||||
| Sex, n (%) | |||||||||
|
|
|
Male | 17 (36) | 11 (46) | .43c | ||||
|
|
|
Female | 30 (64) | 13 (54) | .43c | ||||
|
|
Median age (years; range) | 65 (23-84) | 59 (32-88) | <.001d | |||||
| Clinic attendance metrics | |||||||||
|
|
Patient choice for initial consultation (N=69), n (%) | 47 (100) | 22 (100) |
|
|||||
|
|
|
New consultation | 26 (55) | 10 (45) | .44c | ||||
|
|
|
Follow-up consultation | 21 (45) | 12 (55) | .44c | ||||
|
|
Return journey metrics (per appointment) | ||||||||
|
|
|
Median distance, miles (range) | 33 (5.2-82) | 61.6 (8-130.6) | <.001e | ||||
|
|
|
Median estimated travel timef, minutes (range) | 78 (21-144) | 109g (30-198) | <.001e | ||||
|
|
|
Median estimated travel costsh, [range] | £7.63 (US $10.39) [£4.57-£13.02 (US $6.22-US $17.73)] | £10.78g (US $14.68) [£4.88-£18.37 (US $6.65-US $25.01)] | <.001e | ||||
|
|
Total appointments (N=119), n (%) | 78 (65.5) | 41 (34.5) |
|
|||||
|
|
Total distance traveledf, miles | 2382 | 2521g | N/Ab | |||||
|
|
Total estimated travel timef, hours | 86.7 | 69.9g | N/Ab | |||||
|
|
Travel costs | £574.04 (US $781.73) | £441.48g (US $601.20) | N/Ab | |||||
|
|
Carbon footprint (CO2e)i, tonne | 0.46 | 0.49g | N/Ab | |||||
aTwo patients switched from face-to-face to teleconsultation after first visit.
bStatistical test not applicable.
cChi-square test.
dIndependent t test (2-tailed).
eMann-Whitney test.
fEstimated by Google Maps based on the return journey to the hospital from their home address.
gIndicative cost, time, and travel miles avoided by the teleconsultation group.
hBased on the average fuel price of £1.28 (US $1.74) per liter during the pilot, 51.7 mpg fuel efficiency, and hospital parking charge of £4 (US $5.45).
iCalculated assuming the same fuel efficiency and total mileage of all trips.