Virtual outpatient clinic as an alternative to an actual clinic visit after surgical discharge: a randomised controlled trial.
BMJ Qual Saf
; 28(1): 24-31, 2019 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30291181
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
It is standard practice to review all patients following discharge at a follow-up clinic but demands on all health services outweigh resources and unnecessary review appointments may delay or deny access to patients with greater needs.AIMS:
This randomised trial aimed to establish whether a virtual outpatient clinic (VOPC) was an acceptable alternative to an actual outpatient clinic (OPC) attendance for a broad range of general surgical patients following a hospital admission. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
All patients admitted under one general surgical service over the study period were assessed. If eligible for inclusion the rationale, randomisation and follow-up methods were explained, consent was sought and patients randomised to receive either a VOPC or an OPC appointment.RESULTS:
Two-hundred and nine patients consented to study inclusion, of which 98/107 (91.6%) in the VOPC group and 83/102 (81.4%) in the OPC group were successfully contacted. Only 6 patients in the OPC group and 10 in the VOPC group reported ongoing issues. A further follow-up indicated 78 of 82 (95%) VOPC patients were very happy with their overall experience compared with 34/61 (56%) in the actual OPC group (p<0.001). A significant proportion of both cohorts-68/82 (83%) in VOPC group and 41/61 (67%) in OPC group (p = 0.029)-preferred a VOPC appointment as their future follow-up of choice.CONCLUSIONS:
The majority of patients discharged from a surgical service could be better followed up by a virtual clinic with a significant proportion of patients reporting a preference for and a greater satisfaction with such a service.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
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Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Interfaz Usuario-Computador
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Atención Ambulatoria
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Instituciones de Atención Ambulatoria
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
Límite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
BMJ Qual Saf
Año:
2019
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Irlanda