Virtual outreach: economic evaluation of joint teleconsultations for patients referred by their general practitioner for a specialist opinion.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To test the hypotheses that, compared with conventional outpatient consultations, joint teleconsultation (virtual outreach) would incur no increased costs to the NHS, reduce costs to patients, and reduce absences from work by patients and their carers.

Design

Cost consequences study alongside randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Two hospitals in London and Shrewsbury and 29 general practices in inner London and Wales.

Participants

3170 patients identified; 2094 eligible for inclusion and willing to participate. 1051 randomised to virtual outreach and 1043 to standard outpatient appointments.

Main outcome measures

NHS costs, patient costs, health status (SF-12), time spent attending index consultation, patient satisfaction.

Results

Overa

SUBMITTER: Jacklin PB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC164917 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature