Advantages and issues | Articles (telephoneconsultations), n | Articles (videoconsultations), n | Articles (both video andtelephone consultations), n | Total articles, n |
---|---|---|---|---|
Advantages | ||||
Advantages (PCPs) | ||||
Reimbursement for previously ‘free’ services | 1 | – | 4 | 515,17,18,25,27 |
Remote consultations enable better monitoring of cases | 3 | – | 1 | 413,20,22,31 |
Increased appointment adherence | 1 | – | 1 | 213,24 |
Increased involvement by family members and insights into patient’s home environment | – | – | 1 | 113 |
Patients feel empowered to discuss more personal issues via remote consultation | 1 | – | – | 113 |
Advantages (patients and PCPs) | ||||
Convenience | 9 | 2 | – | 1113,16,18,21–25,31,33–35–35 |
Reduced risk of COVID-19 | 3 | – | – | 319,32,35 |
Issues | ||||
Issues (PCPs) | ||||
Difficulty in making clinical decisions | 3 | 1 | 419,20,29,31 | |
Lack of motivation or support | – | – | 3 | 318,22,25 |
Changes to consultation type | 2 | – | – | 219,28 |
Issues (patients) | ||||
Concerns about privacy | 3 | – | 1 | 416,30,33,34 |
Monetary concerns | 3 | – | – | 316,34,35 |
Physician missing appointments | 1 | – | – | 121 |
Issues (patients and PCPs) | ||||
Lack of confidence in, and access to, the technical skills or technology required for remote consultations | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1513,15–22,24,25,31–36,31–36 |
Loss of non-verbal communication and patient–physician rapport | 6 | 2 | 1 | 913,19,21,22,25,31,33–35 |
Loss of physical and visual assessment of symptoms | 5 | 2 | 1 | 813,19,21,22,25,29,33,34 |
Face-to-face required for complex issues | 6 | 3 | – | 913,16–21,22,29,32,33,33 |
Communication barrier owing to language or hearing difficulties | 4 | – | 1 | 513,17,25,32,34 |
Insufficient consultation time | 1 | 1 | 1 | 313,16,33 |
Advantages/issues | ||||
Advantages/issues (PCPs) | ||||
Attitudes towards future use of remote consultation | 3 | 1 | 2 | 613,18,22,25,29,31 |
Workload increased or decreased | 5 | 1 | – | 613,19,20,22,32,33 |
Advantages/issues (patients) | ||||
Changes in difficulty booking appointments and waiting times | 3 | – | – | 325,34,35 |
Advantages/issues (patients and PCPs) | ||||
Satisfaction level with remote consultation | 5 | 2 | 1 | 814,16,18,21,29–33,33 |
Consultation preferences | – | 3 | 2 | 516,18,25,29,33 |
PCP = primary care physician.