Abstract Body

Background:

In early 2020, national lockdowns due to COVID-19 across Europe forced primary care services to adopt a digital-first model in order to reduce face-to-face contact. Although remote consultations boast a multitude of benefits, the attitudes of primary care physicians towards remote working are still unknown.

Aims and learning objectives

By using the latest, front line insights surrounding the remote consultation, as well as key themes highlighted in our mixed-methods study, we aim to stimulate discussions surrounding the risks and benefits of remote consultation, strategies to improve existing models of remote consultation, and thus equip participants with the necessary insights required to facilitate bottom-up, organisational change.

Methods and timetable:

We will begin with a short presentation covering the background of the subject and selected findings of our multi-centre, cross-sectional, mixed-methods study of telehealth use during the pandemic. After brief ice-breakers, we will then facilitate structured group discussion and brainstorming surrounding the learning objectives, using our research to date as a basis for discussion. We will conclude with a group review of the session.

Results:

Workshop participants will gain valuable insight into best practices identified so far in telehealth and discussions will be synthesised in order to inform policy and further research.