Disparities in the use of remote general practice consultations: learning from the COVID-19 pandemic, an analysis of 19 million electronic health records using OpenSAFELY.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Digital technologies are crucial to drive the needed improvement in NHS primary care delivery and access. The impact of these digital interventions on health inequalities remains a critical area of concern and uncertainty. Transition to digital primary care services was rapidly accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored what can be learnt from this transition to digital access by examining the patterns of remote general practice consultation before and after the pandemic and the influence of age, gender, social deprivation, and ethnicity on these patterns.

Methods

This is a longitudinal study in primary care settings involving data from19 million men and women aged 18 + years registered with general practices in England between January 2019 and February

SUBMITTER: Aminu AQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12673744 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature