Key result
Substituting clinician-initiated telephone calls for routine clinic visits reduced total clinic visits by 19% (P<0.001) and total hospital days by 28% (P=0.005) over 2 years.
Why the study?
Does substituting clinician-initiated telephone calls for some clinic visits reduce medical care utilization without adversely affecting patient health in men aged 54 years or older?
Population
497 men aged 54 years or older in a primary care clinic
Comparison
Clinician-initiated telephone calls substituting… vs Usual care
Design
RCT, Randomized
Follow-up
2 years
Authors
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Telephone substitution safely reduces utilization in older men; extends evidence supporting telehealth for routine chronic care.
RCT (n=497)
No
Does substituting clinician-initiated telephone calls for some clinic visits reduce medical care utilization without adversely affecting patient health in men aged 54 years or older?
Effect estimate: 19% reduction
p-value: p=<0.001
Substituting telephone care for selected clinic visits significantly reduces medical service utilization and expenditures without adversely affecting health status.
J Wasson (1992) conducted an RCT in Primary care patients (n=497). Telephone care vs. Usual care was evaluated on Use of medical services (total clinic visits) (19% reduction, p=<0.001). Substituting clinician-initiated telephone calls for routine clinic visits reduced total clinic visits by 19% (P<0.001) and total hospital days by 28% (P=0.005) over 2 years.
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