Translating primary care to telehealth: Analysis of in-person consultations on diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Background The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted primary care, resulting in rapid uptake of telehealth. Patients with chronic conditions like Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) relied heavily on telehealth consultations during this period. It is important to assess whether tasks observed during T2DM or CVD in-person consultations are translatable to telehealth.

Aim To explore the extent to which in-person GP consultations are translatable to telehealth for patients with T2DM or CVD.

Design & setting This study screened 281 GP consultations conducted in 2017 within the UK general practice setting for consultations pertaining to T2DM or CVD. Seventeen in-person consultations (in de-identified video and transcript) were selected for further analysis.

Method Detailed reporting of tasks, physical artefacts, and physical examinations observed during in-person GP consultations. A new scoring method applying two key metrics, supporting definitions and examples was designed to assess translatability of clinical tasks, to telehealth.

Results Across 17 T2DM or CVD in-person consultations analysed, 23 clinical tasks, 21 physical artefacts, and nine physical examinations were observed. 60% of tasks analysed were deemed easily translatable to telehealth. 26% of tasks were rated as ‘translatable to telehealth’ but may require a patient obtaining their own equipment. 13% of tasks were rated as ‘potentially translatable to telehealth’. No clinical tasks for these cohorts were rated as untranslatable to telehealth.

Conclusion Majority of tasks observed during T2DM or CVD in-person GP consultations are translatable to telehealth. Further research is warranted to investigate emergent safety concerns from increased uptake of telehealth.