Table 2.
Reported general practitioner-patient visit types with telehealth support during the COVID-19 pandemic (N=19).a
Visit type | Studies that reported the use of telehealth | Benefit findings of telehealth | |||||
|
|
Studies, n (%) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 |
Chronic condition management (n=17) |
|
13 (76) | N/Ad | N/A |
|
||
Medication management (nonchronic condition; n=17) |
|
11 (65) | N/A | N/A |
|
||
Existing patients (acute or existing concern; n=17) |
|
11 (65) | N/A | N/A | —e | ||
New patients (acute or existing concern; n=16) |
|
7 (44) | N/A | N/A |
|
|
|
Mental health and behavioral management (n=15) | 11 (73) | N/A | N/A | ||||
Post–test result follow-up (n=14) | 5 (36) | N/A | N/A | — | — | ||
Postdischarge follow-up (n=7) | 5 (71) | N/A | N/A |
|
|
aDefinitions of the different visit types are informed by the Department of Health Medicare Benefits Scheme item definitions [41] (Multimedia Appendix 7). Levels of evidence were derived from the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation scoring [39]. Level 1 is systematic reviews, level 2 is randomized controlled trials, level 3 is nonrandomized experimental studies or comparative (observational) studies, level 4 is case series (cohort studies), and level 5 is opinion pieces or clinical guidelines. Each article can report more than one visit type supported with telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
bRACGP: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
cMBS: Medicare Benefits Schedule.
dN/A: not applicable.
eNo data available for the category specified.