Remote consultations in primary care during COVID-19
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Remote consultations in primary care during COVID-19: views and experiences of healthcare professionals and patients
IRAS ID
282494
Contact name
Jennifer Downing
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 3 days
Research summary
COVID-19 has resulted in challenges to healthcare delivery previously unseen. In primary care most consultations are conducted remotely in the first instance, mainly using computer-based e-consultations, telephone or video calls, followed if necessary by a face to face appointment. Pre-COVID-19 evidence suggested that remote consultations could support access to services for people living in remote or rural areas, however, most people accessing care remotely tended to be younger, employed and those living in higher income groups. With wide-spread changes to primary care the impact on how different populations now access services is not fully understood, therefore the associated health inequalities need to be explored. Primary care is providing remote consultations as first-line access, implementing changes to healthcare delivery at extreme speed. This is a natural experiment we need to learn from. This study will examine the impact of these changes on those delivering them and on those for whom they are intended. We aim to use questionnaires (10 minutes to complete) over three time periods, each three months apart. Participants will be asked at follow-up stages to complete another questionnaire. Participation is voluntary and can be withdrawn at any point. Interviews will take place at the outset and six months with 10 participants. The study will be promoted through GP practices and social media to explore the benefits and challenges to consider impact within different populations, such as the elderly, ethnic minority groups and those with long-term conditions. Healthcare professionals will specifically be asked about their reach into populations without access to, or familiarity with, technologies and stable telephone or IT access. We aim to identify how this approach to accessing primary care will affect patient and professional engagement and identify opportunities and challenges to inform long-term plans for the future equitable provision of remote consultations in primary care.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
21/NI/0066
Date of REC Opinion
4 May 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion