ArticleBMJ open2020
Uptake and patient and provider communication modality preferences of virtual visits in primary care: a retrospective cohort study in Canada.
Article in BMJ open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 48 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
48 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- A theory-based analysis of the implementation of online asynchronous telemedicine platforms into primary care practices using Normalisation Process Theory.BMC primary care · 2025Pooled it
- Understanding How the Design and Implementation of Online Consultations Affect Primary Care Quality: Systematic Review of Evidence With Recommendations for Designers, Providers, and Researchers.Journal of medical Internet research · 2022Pooled it
- Patients' and parents' views on how digital tools enable personalized and partnered care in genetics: a qualitative study.European journal of human genetics : EJHG · 2026Article
- Article
- Patient Preferences for In-Person vs Remote Care for Long-Term Conditions.JAMA network open · 2026Article
- Review
- The Implementation Requirements of a Virtual Care Program for Patients With Chronic Wounds: A Qualitative Study.International wound journal · 2025Article
- The Virtual Client Experience Survey for Mental Health and Addictions: Revalidation of a Survey to Measure Client and Family Experiences of Virtual Care.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Article
- Telehealth satisfaction among patients with chronic diseases: a cross-sectional analysis.PeerJ · 2025Article
- Toward a universal definition of provider-patient attachment in primary care.Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien · 2024Review
- Implementing virtual primary care: experiences, perspectives and identification of improvement opportunities in an academic primary care setting.BMJ open quality · 2024Article
- A Phenomenological Inquiry of the Shift to Virtual Care Delivery: Insights from Front-Line Primary Care Providers.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Telemedicine visits requiring follow-up in-person visits at an urban academic family medicine centre.Family practice · 2024Article
- Effectiveness and safety of asynchronous telemedicine consultations in general practice: a systematic review.BJGP open · 2024Article
- Ethical considerations in prevention and management of non-communicable diseases: a narrative review.Journal of medical ethics and history of medicine · 2024Review
- Article
- Patients' suggestions for improvements to text-based e-consultations. An online survey of users of the national health portal in Norway.Frontiers in digital health · 2024Article
- Advancing Virtual at-Home Care for Community Health Center Patients Using Patient Self-Care Tools, Technology, and Education [Letter].Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2024Article
- Health care utilization and outcomes of patients seen by virtual urgent care versus in-person emergency department care.CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesTo evaluate the uptake of a platform for virtual visits in primary care, examine patient and physician preferences for virtual communication methods and report on characteristics of visits and patients experience of care.
designA retrospective cohort study.
settingPrimary care practices within five regions in Ontario, Canada after 18 months of access to virtual care services.
participants326 primary care providers and 14 291 registered patients.
interventionsProviders used a platform that allowed them to connect with their patients through synchronous (audio/video) and/or asynchronous (secure messaging) communication.
main outcome measuresUser-level data from the platforms including patient demographics, practice characteristics, communication modality used, visit characteristics and patients' satisfaction.
resultsAmong the participants, 44% of registered patients and 60% of registered providers used the platform at least once. Among patient users, 51% completed at least one virtual visit. The majority of virtual visits (94%) involved secure messaging. The most common patient requests were for medication prescriptions (24%) and follow-up from previous appointment (22%). The most common provider request was to follow-up on test results (59%). Providers indicated that 81% of virtual visits required no follow-up for that issue and 99% of patients reported that they would use virtual care services again.
conclusionsWhile there are a growing number of primary care video visit services, our study found that both patients and providers in rostered practices prefer secure messaging over video. Despite fears that virtual visits would be overused by patients, when patients connected with their own primary care provider, many virtual visits appeared to replace in-person visits, and patients did not overwhelm physicians with requests. This approach may improve access and continuity in primary care.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.