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Consumer perspectives of telehealth in ambulatory care in an Australian health network

journal contribution
posted on 2022-03-25, 07:15 authored by Amy DennettAmy Dennett, Nicholas TaylorNicholas Taylor, K Williams, Annie LewisAnnie Lewis, P Brann, JD Hope, AM Wilton, Katherine HardingKatherine Harding
We aimed to explore consumer experiences of ambulatory telehealth services and whether consumer experiences differed according to whether they received their consultation using telephone or video technology. We conducted structured telephone interviews with patient consumers who had received a recent remote consultation by telephone or video call, at local ambulatory allied health or multidisciplinary services within a large public metropolitan public health network. Respondents were asked about their recent experience and future choices in relation to telehealth. Responses from consumers who received telephone and video consultations were compared. Consumers from community rehabilitation, community health, allied health outpatients, multidisciplinary specialist clinics and mental health services participated (n = 379), of whom 245 received a telephone consultation (65%) and 134 a video consultation (35%). Almost half of respondents (49%) expressed preference for future face-to-face care and 29% reported they would choose to use telehealth over face-to-face consultation for a similar appointment again. Many commented that they would be influenced by the type of consultation required and expressed a desire to have a choice. Approximately 80% of both groups reported they had achieved the desired outcome from their telehealth consultation. Consumers using video were more likely to experience technical issues. Telehealth met the needs of most consumers, and responses were similar for telephone and video consultations.

Funding

The authors disclose receipt of the following financial support for the research: This work was supported by an Eastern Health Foundation grant.

History

Publication Date

2021-09-23

Journal

Health and Social Care in the Community

Pagination

10p.

Publisher

Wiley

ISSN

0966-0410

Rights Statement

© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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