RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Translating primary care to telehealth: Analysis of in-person consultations on diabetes and cardiovascular disease
JF BJGP Open
JO BJGP Open
FD Royal College of General Practitioners
SP BJGPO.2022.0123
DO 10.3399/BJGPO.2022.0123
A1 Lane, Jared
A1 David, Katrina
A1 Ramarao, Jayashanthi
A1 Ward, Kanesha
A1 Raghuraman, Sunayana
A1 Waheed, Moomna
A1 Lau, Annie
YR 2022
UL http://bjgpopen.org/content/early/2022/11/30/BJGPO.2022.0123.abstract
AB 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.