A randomized trial of virtual visits in a general medicine practice
- 13 April 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
- Vol. 15 (3), 115-117
- https://doi.org/10.1258/jtt.2009.003003
Abstract
We compared desktop videoconferencing to conventional face-to-face visits for a range of commonly presenting problems in a general practice. A total of 175 patients were recruited. Patients were randomized to one of two arms of the study. In the first arm, the patients completed a visit (virtual or face-to-face) with a physician; they then completed a second visit via the other modality with another physician. In the second arm of the study, subjects had both visits face-to-face; different physicians conducted the two face-to-face consultations. Patients found virtual visits similar to face-to-face visits on most measures, including time spent with the physician, ease of interaction and personal aspects of the interaction. Physicians were also highly satisfied with the virtual visit modality. The diagnostic agreement between physicians was 84% between face-to-face and virtual visits; it was 80% between the two face-to-face visits. The study suggests that both patients and physicians could benefit if virtual visits were used as an alternative method of accessing primary care services.This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- Virtual Visits in a General Medicine Practice: A Pilot StudyTelemedicine and e-Health, 2008
- Human factors in primary care telemedicine encountersJournal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 2008
- Toward Higher-Performance Health Systems: Adults' Health Care Experiences In Seven Countries, 2007Health Affairs, 2007