Videoconferences between remote-sitting specialist, patient and practice staff concerning low prevalent diseases and complex pathways in general practice clinics: a feasibility study

OBJECTIVES: To develop a videoconference between a remote-sitting specialist, a patient and a practice staff (phase 1) and explore its feasibility in a small-scale real-world setting (phase 2) as preparation for a randomised controlled trial. DESIGN: (MRSA) pathways as a case. The study was carried out between October 2020 and December 2022. In phase 1, we held a workshop with seven end-users. In phase 2, we carried out eight videoconferences and interviewed eight patients and seven practice staff who participated in the videoconferences. The analysis was performed according to Kvale and Brinkmann's three interpretative contexts. PARTICIPANTS: Phase 1: One patient, general practitioners and healthcare providers with expertise in infection control and infectious diseases. Phase 2: Practice staff and Danish-speaking MRSA carriers planned to receive treatment and follow-up tests to confirm successful treatment. RESULTS: Phase 1: The written description of the videoconference included tasks before, during and after the videoconference. It aimed to be patient-centered and to plan the patient pathway. Phase 2: During the analysis, three themes emerged: (1) ways to collaborate in standard care and videoconferences, (2) shared knowledge and planning of the pathway and (3) barriers when using videoconferences. CONCLUSION: The videoconferences are feasible and were perceived as acceptable, relevant and useful if they were structured, patient-centred and facilitated pathway planning. However, some patients found videoconferences less information-rich than face-to-face meetings, while some practice staff considered them time-consuming.