Trends in the use of video consultation in general practice during COVID-19: impact of practice and country characteristics based on the international, cross-sectional PRICOV-19 study.
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BORIS DOI
Date of Publication
July 2, 2025
Publication Type
Article
Division/Institute
Contributor
Kirk, Ulrik Bak | |
Pellin, Maria de la Cruz Gomez | |
Hoffmann, Kathryn | |
Stummer, Florian Odilo | |
Van Poel, Esther | |
Vestergaard, Claus Høstrup | |
Holm, Anne | |
Tatsioni, Athina | |
Petrazzuoli, Ferdinando | |
Neves, Ana Luisa | |
Bravo, Raquel Gomez | |
Asenova, Radost | |
Mallen, Christian | |
Bojaj, Gazmend | |
Rochfort, Andree | |
Bussche, Pierre Vanden | |
Collins, Claire | |
Willems, Sara | |
Bro, Flemming | |
Huibers, Linda |
Subject(s)
Series
BMC Primary Care
ISSN or ISBN (if monograph)
2731-4553
Publisher
BioMed Central
Language
English
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
40604477
Uncontrolled Keywords
Description
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the use of telemedicine, specifically video consultations as they provide healthcare access in challenging situations where face-to-face encounters are not possible. Nevertheless, it remains largely unknown to what extent the organisation of general practice and national digital infrastructures have impacted the uptake and use of video consultations.Objective
This study examined the variation in use of video consultations in general practice across Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic and explored associations with practice- and country-level characteristics.Methods
This study is part of the international PRICOV-19 project, using data from an online survey and additional questions from national leads. First, we conducted a rapid literature search to support an evidence-based selection of the PRICOV-19 main survey items and additional questions aligned with our aims. Then, we included five practice-level and nine country-level characteristics, as well as COVID-19 intensity characteristics, as independent variables in the analysis. Finally, we conducted a linear mixed model analysis at the country-level, examining five models incrementally within a one-level random intercept regression model.Results
Data from 5,065 general practices in 38 countries revealed that fewer than half (47.5%) utilized video consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Usage was highest in the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Scandinavia, and France (82.6-94.4%) and the lowest in Portugal, Spain, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic (11.1-23.1%). At practice-level, key factors associated with higher usage included having more patients than average with a history of migration and difficulty speaking the local language, being a self-employed general practitioner, having a higher number of registered patients, and being urban-based. At country level, only accessible and affordable internet was statistically significantly associated with use of video consultations.Conclusions
The study corroborates some established trends in telemedicine adoption while also providing new insights into specific practice-level factors that facilitated the use of video consultations in general practice across European countries during COVID-19. While some factors are universally influential, particularly internet access and affordability, others are more context-dependent.Trial Registration
Not applicable.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the use of telemedicine, specifically video consultations as they provide healthcare access in challenging situations where face-to-face encounters are not possible. Nevertheless, it remains largely unknown to what extent the organisation of general practice and national digital infrastructures have impacted the uptake and use of video consultations.Objective
This study examined the variation in use of video consultations in general practice across Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic and explored associations with practice- and country-level characteristics.Methods
This study is part of the international PRICOV-19 project, using data from an online survey and additional questions from national leads. First, we conducted a rapid literature search to support an evidence-based selection of the PRICOV-19 main survey items and additional questions aligned with our aims. Then, we included five practice-level and nine country-level characteristics, as well as COVID-19 intensity characteristics, as independent variables in the analysis. Finally, we conducted a linear mixed model analysis at the country-level, examining five models incrementally within a one-level random intercept regression model.Results
Data from 5,065 general practices in 38 countries revealed that fewer than half (47.5%) utilized video consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Usage was highest in the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Scandinavia, and France (82.6-94.4%) and the lowest in Portugal, Spain, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic (11.1-23.1%). At practice-level, key factors associated with higher usage included having more patients than average with a history of migration and difficulty speaking the local language, being a self-employed general practitioner, having a higher number of registered patients, and being urban-based. At country level, only accessible and affordable internet was statistically significantly associated with use of video consultations.Conclusions
The study corroborates some established trends in telemedicine adoption while also providing new insights into specific practice-level factors that facilitated the use of video consultations in general practice across European countries during COVID-19. While some factors are universally influential, particularly internet access and affordability, others are more context-dependent.Trial Registration
Not applicable.
File(s)
| File | File Type | Format | Size | License | Publisher/Copright statement | Content | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12875_2025_Article_2892.pdf | text | Adobe PDF | 1.91 MB | published |