| Banks 2017 (15) |
UK |
Qualitative interview study |
Usage of electronic consultation system |
23 GPs |
GPs and other health workers |
15 months in 2016 |
• E-consultations (by mail) • Physical consultati |
The technology did not justify the financial investment. |
Evaluation of only one e-system |
No |
| Atheron 2017 (16) |
UK |
Case study |
What are the alternatives to physical consultation? |
45 staff members in GPs’ office |
other health workers and patients |
10 months in 2015 and 2016 |
• Telephone calls • Video calls • Mail |
Implementing alternatives to physical consultation should be moderate and gradual. |
One specific ethnic group was included |
No |
| Newbould 2018 (17) |
UK |
Qualitative study |
To identify enablers and barriers to adopting a telephone first approach |
Semi- structured interview 53 GPs |
GPs |
6 months in 2018 |
• Telephone first approach |
Approach is an improvement of previous system. |
Only included staff who believe in this approach |
No |
| Randhawa 2018 (18) |
UK |
Qualitative pilot study |
Views of GPs on video consultations |
Semi- structured interview 12 GPs |
GPs |
1 month in 2014 |
• Video consultations |
Video consultations can be useful, practical. |
Success of service depends on availability and quality of technology |
No |
| Cowie 2018 (19) |
UK |
A multi- methods study |
Evaluation of digital consultations |
11 GPs |
GPs |
4 months in 2017 |
• eConsult (web-based triage and consultation system) |
GPs had high satisfaction, improves quality of care. |
Short time, low number of participants |
No |
| Zanaboni 2020 (20) |
Norway |
Online survey |
Use and experience with e-consultation |
2,043 patients |
patients |
14 days in 2017 |
• E-consultations (by mail) |
One of the first countries that implemented e-consultation, it improves the quality of care. |
Online survey was used by patients who have computer knowledge, not applicable for the whole population |
No |
| López Seguí 2020 (21) |
Spain |
Retro- spective cross-sectional study |
Can teleconsultations reduce the number of visits? |
3,559 messages for 2,268 teleconsultations |
GPs |
4 months in 2018 |
• eConsulta (by mail) |
Teleconsultations can reduce the number of visits. |
No systemized approach, only a few GP were included |
No |
| Sharma 2020 (22) |
UK |
Cross- sectional study |
Satisfaction of patients with remote consultations |
95 GPs |
GPs and other health workers |
1 month in 2020 |
• Telephone calls • Video calls • Mail • Physical consultation |
The implementation of remote consultation requires good financial support for the IT infrastructure. |
Small sample |
Yes |
| Morreel 2020 (23) |
Belgium |
Real-time observational study |
Organizations and characteristics of primary care |
21 GPs 15,655 consultations |
GPs |
5 weekends in 2019 |
• Home visits • Telephone- • Physical consultation |
GPs changed their way of working rapidly, almost immediately. |
Safety problems |
Yes |
| Murphy 2021 (24) |
UK |
A mix- methods longitudinal study |
Impact of rapid implementation of remote consultations in pandemic of Covid-19 |
87 GPs |
GPs and other health workers |
4 months in 2020 compared to 2019 |
• Telephone calls • Video calls • Mail |
Remote consultation is necessary. |
Patients were not interviewed |
Yes |
| Andreson 2021 (25) |
UK |
Satisfaction measurement using a four-step questionnaire |
Satisfaction of patients with remote consultations |
104 patients |
patients |
3 separate days in 2021 |
• Telephone calls • Video calls |
Remote consultations are effective complement to physical consultation. |
Online survey was used by patients who have computer knowledge, not applicable for the whole population |
No |
| Mathew 2021 (26) |
Australia |
Online survey |
What kind of telehealth tool is the most acceptable for patients? |
154 patients |
patients |
2 months in 2020 |
• Telephone calls • Video calls |
The perception of telephone consultation is strongly positive. |
Study performed on a local level |
No |
