Evaluation of the Effect of Consultant Characteristics on Telemedicine Diagnosis and Treatment

Table 3

Characteristics of the Teleconsultations (𝑛=454).

Variable	𝑛	Percentage (%)
Patient referred for further care
Yes	236	61
No	149	39
No response	69
Patient referred to
Hospital emergency room	13	4
Participating/referring primary provider	35	11
Another primary provider	1	.30
Another consulting specialist	12	4
Consulting specialist in the telemedicine  session	178	53
Other	17	5
Not applicable	77	23
No response	121
Referral care
In-person in another community	34	10
In-person in the patient’s community	40	12
Via telemedicine	178	52
Not applicable	76	22
Don’t know	4	1
Other	8	2
No response	114
*Problems with equipment or transmission
No problems	442	89
Problems with audio	12	2
Problems with video	20	4
Problems with peripheral equipment	7	1
Problems with software	1	.20
Human error in operating equipment	3	.60
Other problems	8	2
Effect of problems with equipment or transmission during the consultation
Minimal effect	99	24
Moderate effect, delayed session	29	7
Moderate effect, session difficult	6	1
Significant effect, very disruptive	4	.90
Impossible to complete session	1	.20
Not applicable	280	67
No response	79

* Note. Consultants could choose multiple answers for this item.