ID-5184 Wonca Abstracts supplement A-K 13-10-23 - Flipbook - Page 207
WONCA 2023 Supplement 1: WONCA 2023 abstracts (A–K)
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Video versus telephone for telehealth delivery: A crosssectional study of Australian general practice trainees
Dr Katie Fisher1,2, Amanda Tapley1,2, Anna Ralston1,2, Andrew Davey1,2, Alison Fielding1,2, Mieke van
Driel3, Elizabeth Holliday1, Jason Dizon4, Neil Spike5,6,7, Lisa Clarke8, Prof Parker Magin1,2
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University of Newcastle, 2GP Synergy, 3University of Queensland, 4Hunter Medical Research Institute,
Eastern Victoria General Practice Training, 6The University of Melbourne, 7Monash University, 8General
Practice Training Tasmania
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Introduction
Remunerated telehealth consultations have become a permanent feature of Australian general practice
(GP), with two main modalities: videoconferencing and telephone. Videoconferencing has advantages
over telephone, including improved diagnostic accuracy and being able to perform a remote physical
examination. However, thus far, videoconferencing uptake in Australia has been relatively low. This
study aimed to establish the prevalence and associations of video versus telephone consultations in
Australian GP trainees’ practice.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional analysis of data from the ReCEnT (Registrars Clinical Encounters in Training)
project, collected over three six-month terms from 2020 to 2021. In ReCEnT, registrars record the
details of 60 consecutive in-practice consultations every six-month term, for a total of three terms.
Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were performed within the generalised estimating
equations framework with the outcome being video versus telephone.
Results
From 2020 to 2021, 102,286 consultations were recorded by 1168 registrars, with 21.4% of
consultations performed via telehealth. Of these, telephone accounted for 96.6% (95% CI: 96.3%,
96.8%) and videoconferencing for 3.4% (95% CI: 3.2%, 3.7%). Statistically significant associations of
using videoconferencing, compared to telephone, included longer consultation duration (OR 1.02,
95% CI: 1.01, 1.03 per minute; and mean 14.9 versus 12.8 minutes), patients aged 0–14 years (OR
1.29, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.62, compared to age 15–34 years), patients new to the registrar (OR 1.19, 95%
CI: 1.04, 1.35), part-time registrars (OR 1.84, 95% CI: 1.08, 3.15), and areas of less socioeconomic
disadvantage (OR 1.27, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.62 per decile).
Conclusions
The majority of registrars’ telehealth consultations were performed via telephone, which limits potential
for remote physical examination. Further, telephone use being associated with greater socioeconomic
disadvantage has implications for health equity. Future research should explore barriers to
videoconferencing use and strategies to increase its uptake.
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