[Video consultation in general practice: need and feasibility]

OBJECTIVE: To study whether patients require video consultations in general practice and whether or not video consultation is feasible. DESIGN: Semi-structured interviews and a pilot study in practice. METHOD: We interviewed 25 visitors to the general practice on their views on video consultations in a health centre in the eastern part of the Netherlands. Furthermore, we studied and evaluated the feasibility of video consultation for 21 patients. RESULTS: Patients' opinions on video consultations differed. Few patients felt that video consultation was suitable for a first contact in a disease episode, and hardly any patient saw possibilities for video consultations from their work station. Many patients favoured the possibility of specialists or family members joining the consultation from a remote location. Although technical problems occurred in more than 80% of consultations, over 80% of patients were satisfied after the video consultation had taken place. CONCLUSION: The need for video consultation in general practice is limited. Although many technical problems occurred, video consultations are feasible and can be conducted satisfactorily in practice.