OBJECTIVES

: Despite being beneficial for Primary care settings, the adoption of Video-Consultations (VC) instead of traditional in-clinic consultations (I-CCs) is complex and slow. Understanding VC vs. ICC choice' related preferences of the three key stakeholder groups in primary care: Patients, Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) and Policy Makers (PMs), is crucial for achieving better implementation.

METHODS

: Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) surveys with 12 choice tasks of two labeled alternatives (VC or I-CC) with four VC vs. ICC attributes most relevant to each stakeholder group was filled by 508 Patients, 264 PCPs and 138 PMs. Choice' attributes were, for both patients and PMs were: (1)-Time to next available appointment; (2)-Time in-line before consultation; (3)-Relationship to PCP; and (4)-Quality of consultation. For PCPs these were: (1)-Time in-line before consultation; (2)-Patient's self-management ability; (3)-Consultation purpose; (4)-Quality of consultation. Random effects logit model analysis was used to estimate stakeholders' preferences for attributes.

RESULTS

: All experiment attributes were significantly important in choosing VC vs. ICC for patients and PCPs groups. Three out of four attributes were significantly important for PMs. Gaps and similarities were identified between stakeholders in attribute rank orders, trade-offs and probabilities of VC take up. PMs VC uptake were 86%, patients’ preferences suggested that 68% of ICC can be switched to VC and PCPs uptake rates were 30% in cases, where consultation purpose is to diagnose and giving treatment and 48% of consultations, where consultation purpose is follow up.

CONCLUSIONS

: Our findings show key stakeholders' preferences for VC integration. Those preferences should be considered when VC systems are about to be used in primary care to optimize implementation process. Although there is a stronger preference for I-CC among PCPs and patients, alternative combinations of attribute levels can be used to compensate and reconfigure a more preferred VC service.