Validating a toolkit to guide the implementation of high-quality virtual primary care: an international eDelphi study

Ana Luisa Neves, Joana Carvalho, On Behalf Of The Insight Group

Keywords: Primary care, digital health, telemedicine

Background:

Research is needed to consider how to support primary care organisations to smoothly incorporate virtual consultations as part of their clinical practice, while ensuring that quality and safety of the care provided. Based on qualitative research capturing the views of more than 1,600 General Practitioners across 20 countries, we developed a toolkit to guide the implementation of high-quality virtual primary care. The toolkit includes several domains: contextual considerations, technology infrastructure, awareness & experience, safety & risk management, strategic planning and supporting policies (LiE-PLOSDigHealth-2022).

Research questions:

The aim of this study is to explore General Practitioners' perspectives on the appropriateness and relevance of this tool.

Method:

We will use an eDelphi approach to engage GPs (n=100-150) with experience using virtual consultations (i.e., telephone or video); GPs will be recruited through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Social medial platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook and LinkedIn will also be used. Data will be collected using semi-structured online questionnaires until consensus was reached on the various dimensions. Responses on the relevance of the dimensions were summarised to inform decisions on retention of the dimensions according to pre-specified rules. Thematic analysis of the free-text responses will be used to revise definitions and the assessment of dimensions.

Results:

Study proposal / idea.

Conclusions:

It is expected that this study will provide evidence base on whether our new instrument can be used in practice to guide, evaluate and monitor the implementation of high-quality virtual care in general practice.

Points for discussion: