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Telephone versus face-to-face clinics for the management of new rhinology referrals: a retrospective cohort study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 January 2023

C Metcalfe Open the ORCID record for C Metcalfe [Opens in a new window] ,
Z Mughal  and
T Beech
C Metcalfe*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
Z Mughal
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
T Beech
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
*
Corresponding author: Dr C Metcalfe, Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK E-mail: christophermetcalfe@nhs.net
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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to compare outcomes of telephone and face-to-face consultations for new rhinology referrals and discuss the wider use of telemedicine in rhinology.

Method

This was a retrospective cohort study of new rhinology referrals seen in either a telephone or face-to-face clinic. Primary outcome was the proportion of patients given a definitive outcome at initial appointment (discharged or added to waiting list) versus those requiring follow up.

Results

A total of 137 patients (70 telephone, 67 face-to-face) were included. A total of 45 of 67 patients (67 per cent) undergoing a face-to-face consultation received a definitive outcome following initial review, versus 11 of 70 (16 per cent) telephone patients. Of 70 telephone patients 57 (81 per cent) were followed up face-to-face for examination.

Conclusion

The role of telephone clinics in the assessment of new rhinology referrals is currently limited by the lack of clinical examination. Further research on developing remote assessment pathways that incorporate asynchronous review of recorded examinations are needed before telemedicine can become established within the rhinology clinic.

Keywords

Nose DiseasesTelemedicineTelephoneHealth servicesCovid-19
Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 137 , Issue 7 , July 2023 , pp. 810 - 814
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

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Footnotes

Dr C Metcalfe takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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