Physicians' experiences of video consultation with patients at a public virtual primary care clinic: a qualitative interview study

• Objective To describe physicians' experiences of video consultation with new patients visiting a publicly owned virtual primary care clinic. Design In this qualitative study, data were collected from semi-structured individual interviews and analysed by systematic text condensation. Setting A publicly owned virtual primary care clinic in Region Vastra Gotaland, Sweden. Subjects Ten primary care physicians working at the clinic. Results Connecting with a patient over video could be either straightforward or deficient, depending on communication and the patient's condition. Clinical experience, communication skills, and involving patients throughout the consultation and examination were crucial for assessments over video where patients were guided to perform self-examination. The flexibility of work and the regulated assignment online were positive for the physicians' work situation and wellbeing. Providing video consultation within the same organisation as the patient's regular health centre was considered to facilitate patient care and safety. Video consultation was considered suitable for some diagnoses and for some patients not able to reach a primary healthcare centre, though doubts were expressed about the healthcare and social benefits of this virtual care service. Conclusion For the physicians, video consultation induced changes in the basis for assessment of primary care patients. The limitations on informational exchange demanded an extended form of patient involvement founded upon consultation skills, clinical experience and new skills for virtual examination. Combining virtual care with traditional general practice has the potential to reduce the workload for the individual physician and ensure medical competence in virtual primary care. Video consultation experienced suitable in some situations, but easy access to it expressed problematic in terms of medical prioritisation in healthcare.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Primary health care

general practise

video consultation

virtual care

telemedicine

consultation process

qualitative research

Health Care Sciences & Services

General & Internal Medicine

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)