Studies of patient satisfaction with telemedicine are inconclusive

Telemedicine is advocated as a mode of healthcare delivery because of its potential to diminish inequalities in service provision and improve access to care. Mair and Whitten (p 1517) performed a systematic review of studies of patient satisfaction with teleconsultation. They found that methodological deficiencies in the published research affect the validity and generalisability of the available results and that communication issues, the quality of interpersonal relationships using this medium, and subsequent effects, if any, on the outcome of consultations have yet to be fully explored. They advocate more detailed investigation of patients' views and suggest that future research should be more scientifically robust to answer specific questions about the most appropriate use of telemedicine.

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Relevant Article

Systematic review of studies of patient satisfaction with telemedicine

Frances Mair and Pamela Whitten
BMJ 2000 320: 1517-1520. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]