Table 2.
Effectiveness of teleconsultations in primary care
| Outcome measures | N patients | TM, mean (SD or 95% CI) | F2F, mean (SD or 95% CI) | Treatment difference, mean (95% CI) | Follow upb | Study ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Videoconsultation vs. F2F | ||||||
| Number of appointments per person | TM = 15 F2F = 15 |
3.4 (1.15) | 5.3 (2.10) | P = 0.003 | 8 months | Collins 2017 (26) |
| Duration (minutes) of appointments per person | 23 (6.0) | 27.5 (6.2) | P ≤ 0.01 | |||
| Total societal cost per person | $143 (46) | $317 (176) | $US 174, P = 0.002 | |||
| % outpatient visits after index visit | TM = 4635 F2F = 1388l1 |
28.1% | 28.1% | P = 0.99 | 3 weeks | Gordon 2017 (22) |
| % hospitalisation after index visit | 0.2% | 0.4% | P = 0.02 | |||
| Adjusteda mean cost of medical follow-up visit | $200 | $288 | P < 0.01 | |||
| SPICE parental self-efficacy subscales (PSEDU, PSESL, PIDU, PISL) | TM = 41 F2F = 100; |
5.56 (0.97), 6.03 (0.75), 5.68 (0.88), 5.83 (0.71) | 5.38 (1.07), 5.90 (0.99), 5.74 (0.93), 5.77 (0.83) | 0.18, 0.13, –0.06, 0.06 P > 0.05 |
>6 months | McCarthy 2020 (27) |
| % weekly session frequency | 68.3% | 67% | P < 0.05 | |||
| Cost of primary care (GP) visit | TM = 5441 F2F = 21176; |
– | – | –$CAN 3.79, P = 0.12 | 3 years | McGrail 2017 (23) |
| Cost of primary care visit with known known provider | –‘ | – | –$CAN 8.68, P < 0.001 | |||
| Continuous abstinence rate from weeks 9 to 12 | TM = 58 F2F = 57; |
81.0 (38.8) | 78.9 (40.8) | 2.1 (–12.8, 17.0) | 12 weeks | Nomura 2019 (17) |
| Continuous abstinence rate from weeks 9 to 24 | 74.1 (43.4) | 71.9 (45.3) | 2.2 (–14.0, 18.4) | 24 weeks | ||
| % Any antibiotic use | TM = 38,839c F2F = 942,613c |
52% | 53% | 1%, P < 0.01 | 21 d (3 weeks) | Shi 2018 (24) |
| % Guideline antibiotic management | 62% | 60% | 2%, P < 0.001 | |||
| Telephone consultation vs. F2F | ||||||
| Change in body weight (kg) | TM = 34 F2F = 33 |
–4.8 (–6.5, –3.1) | –5.6 (–7.1, –4.1) | P = 0.46 | 6 months | Harrigan 2016 (20) |
| –6.3 (–9.9, –2.6) | –5.6 (–8.0, –3.3) | P = 0.72 | 12 months | |||
| HR hospital readmission at 30 days | TM = 68 F2F = 73 |
0.6 (0.3–1.3) | 0.4 (0.2–0.9) | P < 0.05 | 30 days (1 months) | Lindegaard Pedersen 2017 (21) |
| HR hospital readmission at 90 days | 0.7 (0.4–1.3) | 0.4 (0.2–0.8) | P < 0.05 | 90 days (3 months) | ||
| Continuous abstinence rate from weeks 2 to 24 | TM = 201 F2F = 199 |
30.1 | 42.3 | P < 0.05 | 24 weeks | Ramon 2013 (18) |
| Continuous abstinence rate from weeks 2 to 52 | 20.1 | 27.9 | P < 0.05 | 52 weeks | ||
| % Accurate recall | TM = 50 F2F = 94 |
82% | 68% | 14% (–2%, 27%) | 13 days | McKinstry 2011 (25) |
| % Clinician approach (advice repetition) enhance recall | 28% | 47% | P = 0.04 | |||
| Number of post-partum consults | TMd = 683 F2F = 718 |
2.74 (1.47) | 1.22 (0.75) | P < 0.001 | 6 weeks | Seguranyes 2014 (19) |
| Number of health centre visits | 1.0 (0.85) | 1.17 (0.74) | P = 0.002 | |||
| Prevalence of breastfeeding | 64.5% | 65.4% | P > 0.05 | |||
| Satisfaction with midwifery care | 4.77 (0.49) | 4.76 (0.56) | p = 0.94 |
CLBP, Chronic low back pain; F2F, face-to-face; HR, hazard ratio; PIDU, Parental Involvement (Device Use); PISL, Parental Involvement (Speech and Language Development); PSEDU, Parental Self-Efficacy (Device Use); PSESL, Parental Self-Efficacy (Speech and Language Development); PD, Pulmonary disease; SPICE, Scale of Parental Involvement and Self-Efficacy; SPL, sound pressure level; TM, telemedicine; d, day; m, month; w, week
aCosts adjusted for age categories and baseline comorbidities.
bMean values with were measured at the specified follow-up times reported in the table
cnumber of health visits; number of patients not reported.
dpatients could make videoconferencing or telephone consults.