RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Telehealth use in patients with type 2 diabetes in Australian general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study
JF BJGP Open
JO BJGP Open
FD Royal College of General Practitioners
SP BJGPO.2021.0200
DO 10.3399/BJGPO.2021.0200
VO 6
IS 3
A1 Imai, Chisato
A1 Thomas, Judith
A1 Hardie, Rae-Anne
A1 Pearce, Christopher
A1 Badrick, Tony
A1 Georgiou, Andrew
YR 2022
UL http://bjgpopen.org/content/6/3/BJGPO.2021.0200.abstract
AB Background The Australian government introduced temporary government-subsidised telehealth service items (phone and video-conference) in mid-March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The uptake of telehealth by patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) for consulting with GPs is unknown.Aim To evaluate the uptake of telehealth consultations and associated patient characteristics in Australian general practice, including the frequency of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) tests and change in HbA1c levels by telehealth use, compared with guideline recommendations.Design & setting This exploratory study used electronic patient data from approximately 800 general practices in Victoria and New South Wales (NSW), Australia. A pre-COVID-19 period from March 2019–February 2020 was compared with a pandemic period from March 2020–February 2021. Patients diagnosed with T2DM before March 2018 were included.Method Telehealth uptake patterns were examined overall and by patient characteristics. Generalised estimating equation models were used to examine patient probability of 6-monthly HbA1c testing and change in HbA1c levels, comparing between patients who did and patients who did not use telehealth.Results Of 57 916 patients, 80.8% had telehealth consultations during the pandemic period. Telehealth consultations were positively associated with patients with T2DM who were older, female, had chronic kidney disease (CKD), prescribed antidiabetic medications, and living in remote areas. No significant difference was found in 6-monthly HbA1c testing and HbA1c levels between telehealth users and patients who had face-to-face consultations only.Conclusion Telehealth GP consultations were well utilised by patients with T2DM. Diabetes monitoring care via telehealth is as effective as face-to-face consultations.