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Short- and intermediate-term impact of DTC telemedicine consultations on subsequent healthcare consumption

Author

Listed:
  • Cecilia Dahlgren

    (Karolinska Institutet
    Region Stockholm, Center for Health Economics, Informatics and Healthcare Research)

  • Emma Spånberg

    (Karolinska Institutet
    Region Dalarna, Department of Analysis)

  • Sofia Sveréus

    (Karolinska Institutet
    Region Stockholm, Center for Health Economics, Informatics and Healthcare Research)

  • Margareta Dackehag

    (Lund University)

  • Per Wändell

    (Karolinska Institutet)

  • Clas Rehnberg

    (Karolinska Institutet)

Abstract

Aim The use of direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine consultations in primary healthcare has increased rapidly, in Sweden and internationally. Such consultations may be a low-cost alternative to face-to-face visits, but there is limited evidence on their effects on overall healthcare consumption. The aim of this study was to assess the short- and intermediate-term impact of DTC telemedicine consultations on subsequent primary healthcare consumption, by comparing DTC telemedicine users to matched controls in a Swedish setting. Methods We constructed a database with individual-level data on healthcare consumption, for all residents of Region Stockholm in 2018, by linking national and regional registries. The study population included all individuals who had ≥ 1 physician consultation (telemedicine or face-to-face) during the first half of 2018. DTC telemedicine users were matched 1:2 to controls who were non-users of DTC telemedicine but who had a traditional face-to-face consultation during the study period. The matching criteria were diagnosis and demographic and socioeconomic variables. An interrupted time series analysis was performed to compare the healthcare consumption of DTC telemedicine users to that of the control group. Results DTC telemedicine users increased their healthcare consumption more than controls. The effect seemed to be mostly short term (within a month), but was also present at the intermediate term (2–6 months after the initial consultation). The results were robust across age and disease groups. Conclusion The results indicate that DTC telemedicine consultations increase the total number of physician consultations in primary healthcare. From a policy perspective, it is therefore important to further investigate for which diagnoses and treatments DTC telemedicine is suitable so that its use can be encouraged when it is most cost-efficient and limited when it is not. Given the fundamentally different models for reimbursement, there are reasons to review and possibly harmonise the incentive structures for DTC telemedicine and traditional primary healthcare.

Suggested Citation

  • Cecilia Dahlgren & Emma Spånberg & Sofia Sveréus & Margareta Dackehag & Per Wändell & Clas Rehnberg, 2024. "Short- and intermediate-term impact of DTC telemedicine consultations on subsequent healthcare consumption," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 25(1), pages 157-176, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujhec:v:25:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s10198-023-01572-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10198-023-01572-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hessam Bavafa & Lorin M. Hitt & Christian Terwiesch, 2018. "The Impact of E-Visits on Visit Frequencies and Patient Health: Evidence from Primary Care," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 64(12), pages 5461-5480, December.
    2. Björn Ekman, 2018. "Cost Analysis of a Digital Health Care Model in Sweden," PharmacoEconomics - Open, Springer, vol. 2(3), pages 347-354, September.
    3. Livio Garattini & Marco Badinella Martini & Michele Zanetti, 2021. "More room for telemedicine after COVID-19: lessons for primary care?," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 22(2), pages 183-186, March.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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