Virtual Outreach: a randomised controlled trial and economic appraisal

ISRCTN ISRCTN54264250
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN54264250
Secondary identifying numbers HTA 96/02/05
Submission date
09/01/2002
Registration date
09/01/2002
Last edited
25/08/2009
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Other
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Prof Paul Wallace
Scientific

Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences
Royal Free and University College Medical School
Rowland Hill Street
London
NW3 2PF
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)20 7830 2339
Email p.wallace@pcps.ucl.ac.uk

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeOther
Scientific title
Study objectivesThe project was designed to evaluate the feasibility of teleconferenced medical consultations (TMCs) at the interface between primary and secondary care. The key research objectives were:
1. To determine the views of specialists, GPs and patients about TMCs
2. To test the feasibility of TMCs
3. To determine which specialties are most suited to TMCs
4. To make plans for a randomised controlled trial of TMCs.
The key issues of interest related to the relative value of real time teleconferenced medical consultations (TMCs) as an alternative to routine outpatient referral. The study was designed to evaluate the potential of TMCs to improve patients¿ health and satisfaction, and to lead to more efficient usage of health service resources in terms of tests and investigations, procedures, operations and prescriptions. We were particularly interested to find out whether the joint consultations could reduce the number of outpatient and GP consultations following the index consultation. In addition, the study was designed to examine the educational and organisational impact of TMCs. The pilot study was carried out in order to test the feasibility of a full-scale trial. In particular we wished to find out whether we could recruit adequate numbers of patients, whether standard instruments could be used effectively to measure the key outcomes, and whether we would be able to measure the educational and organisational impact of introducing TMCs.
Ethics approval(s)Not provided at time of registration.
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedTeleconferenced medical consultations
InterventionVideoconference link (tele-consultation) versus routine hospital outpatients consultation
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureThe following instruments were used in the trial:
1. A patient demographic and personal details questionnaire
2. S F12 generic measure of well-being
3. Ware Specific Visit Questionnaire (SVQ) for patient satisfaction
4. Speiberger Standing State Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
5. A patient cost questionnaire
6. Duke Severity of Illness questionnaire (DUSOI) to measure the co-morbidity or burden of illness
7. Protocol specifically designed to extract data for hospital and GP records
Secondary outcome measuresNot provided at time of registration.
Overall study start date01/06/1998
Completion date31/10/2001

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupNot Specified
SexBoth
Target number of participants2,094
Key inclusion criteriaAll patients referred by the participating general practitioners for a hospital specialist opinion in the following specialty areas: ENT medicine, general medicine (including endocrinology and rheumatology), gastroenterology, orthopaedics, neurology and urology
Key exclusion criteriaNot provided at time of registration.
Date of first enrolment01/06/1998
Date of final enrolment31/10/2001

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences
London
NW3 2PF
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Department of Health (UK)
Government

Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)1132 545 843
Email Sheila.Greener@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Website http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/03sbpja79

Funders

Funder type

Industry

NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme - HTA (UK)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Other publications publication on design and performance of the trial 11/01/2002 Yes No
Protocol article protocol 11/01/2002 Yes No
Results article main results 08/06/2002 Yes No
Results article results 12/07/2003 Yes No
Other publications HTA monograph 01/12/2004 Yes No