Table 3. Difference in first-time medication prescribing between face-to-face and telehealth consultations, April–December 2020

Consultation type		Number of consultations with a first-time prescription, n (%)	Total consultations, n	Face to face versus telehealth
Consultation type			Total consultations, n	Difference, %	OR (95% CI)^a
Victoria	Face to face	830 677 (18.6)	4 470 203	7.9	1.93 (1.929 to 1.940)
Victoria	Telehealth	401 378 (10.7)	3 764 927	7.9	1.93 (1.929 to 1.940)
NSW	Face to face	689 724 (18.0)	3 833 030	9.2	2.33 (2.320 to 2.350)
NSW	Telehealth	135 766 (8.8)	1 540 056	9.2	2.33 (2.320 to 2.350)
Overall	Face to face	1 520 401 (18.3)	8 303 233	8.2	2.03 (2.020 to 2.031)
Overall	Telehealth	537 144 (10.1)	5 304 983	8.2	2.03 (2.020 to 2.031)

^aAdjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, patient status, remoteness, PHN, and the state of the practice. NSW = New South Wales.