Insights into the use of telemedicine in primary care in times of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic - a cross-sectional analysis based on the international PRICOV-19 study in Austria

Florian Odilo Stummer; Lisa Voggenberger; Maria de la Cruz Gomez Pellin; Esther van Poel; Sara Willems; Kathryn Hoffmann

doi:10.1186/s12875-023-02113-6

Insights into the use of telemedicine in primary care in times of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic - a cross-sectional analysis based on the international PRICOV-19 study in Austria

BMC Prim Care. 2023 Oct 24;24(Suppl 1):218. doi: 10.1186/s12875-023-02113-6.

Authors

Florian Odilo Stummer¹, Lisa Voggenberger², Maria de la Cruz Gomez Pellin¹, Esther van Poel³, Sara Willems³, Kathryn Hoffmann⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Primary Care Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
² Institute for General Medicine, Johannes-Kepler-University, Linz, Austria.
³ Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
⁴ Department of Primary Care Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. kathryn.hoffmann@meduniwien.ac.at.

Abstract

Background: The SARS-CoV2 pandemic as well as the implementation of public health measures to decrease the spread of the virus re-sparked the call for "virtual" health or "distance" treatments. This paper aimed to assess the use of video consultations, the up-to-dateness of practice websites, and the views of GPs on whether eHealth is a positive aspect for the future of their practices in publicly -funded primary healthcare facilities in Austria.

Methods: The cross-sectional online questionnaire, part of the PRICOV-19 study, was conducted from December 2020 until July 2021. We randomly recruited 176 GP practices across Austria. Descriptive statistics as well as binary logistic regression models were applied to examine the associations between telemedicine use and practice factors.

Results: Compared with before the pandemic (3.8%), 7.6% of publicly funded GP practices have been using video consultations since the pandemic. In line with this, 93.9% of the practices had no increase in video consultation use. Fewer than half (44.3%) had an up-to-date webpage, and 27.8% assumed that the pandemic might have been a positive driver for eHealth in their practices. Positive associations with video consultation use could be found in practices with fewer patients aged 70 years and over than the average and more patients with chronic diseases than the average.

Conclusion: The use of video consultations in general practice and the readiness for other telemedicine approaches are both very low in Austria. Austria has to urgently follow the example of countries with a transparent and comprehensive national digital health strategy that includes video consultation. Without a proper payment system, patient inclusion, and support with regard to administrative and organizational aspects, no substantial change will occur in spite of an increase in need due to the pandemic and changes in the patient population.

Keywords: Austria; COVID-19; General practice; PRICOV-19; Primary health care; SARS-CoV-2 pandemic; Telemedicine; Video consultations.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Austria / epidemiology
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Pandemics
Primary Health Care
RNA, Viral
SARS-CoV-2
Telemedicine* / methods

Substances

RNA, Viral