E-consults by General Practitioners in Japan
Author Information
Author(s): Muacevic Alexander, Adler John R, Harada Taku, Morikawa Toru, Furuya Hiroki, Sato Tomoki, Kakehi Minami, Yamada Hiroki, Shimizu Taro
Primary Institution: Department of General Medicine, Nerima Hikarigaoka Hospital, Nerima, JPN
Hypothesis
This study aims to describe the current utilization of the Internet/application-based e-consult system and to assess how effectively it resolves clinical questions.
Conclusion
The Internet/application-based e-consult system enabled GPs to address a wide range of medical problems.
Supporting Evidence
- 52% of cases had their management plans determined via the e-consult system alone.
- 91% of cases had their diagnostic and treatment plans determined entirely through e-consult.
- GP satisfaction with the e-consult process was high, with a median satisfaction score of 5 on a 5-point Likert scale.
- Most e-consults received their initial response within two hours.
- The number of chats required for hospital specialists to respond was very low, with a median of only one chat being necessary.
Takeaway
Doctors in Japan used a special online system to ask other doctors for help with patient problems, and it worked well for many cases.
Methodology
General practitioners used an Internet/application-based e-consult platform to consult hospital specialists over a study period from May 1, 2020, to October 31, 2021.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to the small sample size and lack of follow-up to verify patient outcomes.
Limitations
The study was limited to Japan, had a small sample size, and did not compare the e-consult system with traditional methods.
Participant Demographics
Participants included general practitioners and hospital specialists in Japan.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website