Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38092442›Full record

ArticleBJGP open2024

Diagnosis and management of acute infections during telehealth consultations in Australian general practice: a qualitative study.

Emma J Baillie, Gregory Merlo, Ruby Biezen, Kwame Peprah Boaitey, Parker J Magin, Mieke L van Driel, Lisa Hall

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BJGP open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 28% of its field
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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Primary care practitioners' experiences managing urinary tract infections: a qualitative evidence synthesis.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. 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 at 5 institutions in 3 countries.

Emma J BaillieGeneral Practice Clinical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QL, Australia e.baillie@uq.edu.au.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7306-8602
Gregory MerloHealthcare Improvement Unit, Queensland Health, Bowen Hills, Brisbane, QL, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9931-7830
Ruby BiezenDepartment of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VI, Australia.
Kwame Peprah BoaiteyInstitute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Gold Coast, QL, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0480-1692
Parker J MaginSchool of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8071-8749
Mieke L van DrielGeneral Practice Clinical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QL, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1711-9553
Lisa HallSchool of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QL, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9309-9315
The University of Queensland · AUBond University · AUQueensland Health · AURoyal Australian College of General Practitioners · AUThe University of Melbourne · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe use of telehealth has increased dramatically since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about how GPs manage acute infections during telehealth, and the potential impact on antimicrobial stewardship.

aimTo explore the experiences and perceptions of GP trainees' and supervisors' use of telehealth, and how it influences their management of acute infections. DESIGN &

settingAustralian GP registrars (trainees) and supervisors were recruited via email through their training organisations. Semi-structured interviews with 18 participants were conducted between July and August 2022.

methodInterviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a reflexive thematic approach.

resultsWe identified six overall themes. 1. Participants experienced impaired diagnostic capacity during telehealth consultations. 2. Attempts to improve diagnostic acuity included various methods, such as having patients self-examine. 3. The management of clinical uncertainty frequently entailed referring patients for in-person assessment, overinvestigating, or overtreating. 4. Antibiotic prescribing decisions during telehealth were informed by less information than were in-person consults, with varying impact. 5. Participants believed that other GPs improperly prescribed antibiotics during telehealth. 6. Supervisors believed that registrars hadn't developed the knowledge or skills to determine when conditions could be managed appropriately via telehealth.

conclusionTelehealth has potential for reducing transmission of acute infections and increasing access to healthcare. However, the implications of GPs, especially less experienced GPs, making diagnoses with less certainty, and consequently compromising antimicrobial stewardship, are a concern. Patient self-assessment tools may improve outcomes of telehealth consultations for acute infections.

Indexed as

anti-bacterial agentsantimicrobial stewardshipgeneral practitionersqualitative researchreferral and consultationself-assessmenttelemedicine

Identifiers

PMID38092442
PMCPMC11169986
OpenAlexW4389686548

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.