Table 3.
Reported general practitioner-patient visit types with drawback findings of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic (N=19).a
| Visit type | Studies that reported the use of telehealth | Drawback findings of telehealth | |||||
|
|
|
Studies, n (%) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 |
| Chronic condition management (n=17) |
|
6 (35) | N/Ad | N/A | —e | ||
| Medication management (nonchronic condition; n=17) |
|
3 (18) | N/A | N/A |
|
— | |
| Existing patients (acute or existing concern; n=17) |
|
1 (6) | N/A | N/A | — |
|
— |
| New patients (acute or existing concern; n=16) |
|
9 (56) | N/A | N/A | — | ||
| Mental health and behavioral management (n=15) | 3 (20) | N/A | N/A | — | — | ||
| Post–test result follow-up (n=14) | 3 (21) | N/A | N/A | — | — | ||
| Postdischarge follow-up (n=7) | 3 (43) | 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.