Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36348332›Full record

ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2022

The use of video consultations to support orthopedic patients' treatment at the interface of a clinic and general practitioners.

Estel K, Richter L, Weber G, Fellmer F, Märdian S, Willy C, Back DA

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Estel KDepartment for Traumatology and Orthopedics, Bundeswehr Hospital Berlin, Scharnhorststrasse 13, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
Richter LDepartment for Traumatology and Orthopedics, Bundeswehr Hospital Berlin, Scharnhorststrasse 13, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
Weber GDepartment for Traumatology and Orthopedics, Bundeswehr Hospital Berlin, Scharnhorststrasse 13, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
Fellmer FDepartment for Traumatology and Orthopedics, Bundeswehr Hospital Berlin, Scharnhorststrasse 13, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
Märdian SCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
Willy CDepartment for Traumatology and Orthopedics, Bundeswehr Hospital Berlin, Scharnhorststrasse 13, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
Back DADepartment for Traumatology and Orthopedics, Bundeswehr Hospital Berlin, Scharnhorststrasse 13, 10115, Berlin, Germany. davidback@bundeswehr.org.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionVideo consultations have proven to be a powerful support tool for patient-doctor interactions in general, not only during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study analyzed the feasibility and usefulness of orthopedic telemedical consultations (OTCs) for orthopedic patients at the interface of a clinic and general practitioners.

methodsThe study was carried out at an orthopedic department of a German hospital between April 2020 and October 2020. After written informed consent was obtained, general practitioners (GPs) of a large adjunct health region could present their patients with orthopedic pathologies to specialists at the hospital via OTCs instead of the usual live consultation (LC). The patients, specialists and GPs were evaluated for their OTC experience and attitude (5-point Likert-scale and open questions, 19 to 27 items).

resultsA total of 89 video consultations took place with 76 patients, 16 GPs and six specialists. The average distance between the GPs/patients and the hospital was 141.9 km. The OTCs were rated as pleasant, and the experience was rated as very satisfying (average Likert-Scale rating, with 5 as strong agreement: specialists = 4.8; GPs = 4.9; patients = 4.7). Following the OTC, a LC was not necessary in 76.4% of cases. Patients with a necessary LC after an OTC showed significantly lower satisfaction with the OTC (p = 0.005). Time savings, the elimination of travel and quick contact with orthopedic consultants were positively highlighted by the participants. A total of 123 recommendations for further treatment were given, such as the initiation of physiotherapy/medication and the use of imaging diagnostics. Different technical and organizational challenges could be identified and addressed. DISCUSSION: The vast majority of the participants stated they had a very positive impression. In particular, the potential savings in travel and time as well as straightforward contact with specialists were rated positively. However, limitations in the assessment of initial presentations of complex medical conditions were also highlighted. Further studies on OTCs with a consultative health professional may show other fields of use for this mode of interdisciplinary remote communication.

Indexed as

COVID-19General PractitionersTelemedicineHumansPandemicsReferral and ConsultationClinicGeneral practitionersOrthopedicsSupportVideo consultation

Identifiers

PMID36348332
PMCPMC9640897

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.