• Kaisa Kujansivu, Elina Tolvanen, Mervi Kautto, and Tuomas H Koskela.
• Department of General Practice, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
• Scand J Prim Health Care. 2024 Aug 18: 1121-12.

ObjectivesTo explore the perceptions and views of remote consultations and patient care of primary care physicians (PCPs) who work remotely regularly and have experience performing remote consultations.DesignA qualitative study using thematic analysis.SettingFour online focus group interviews with 17 PCPs, working with one private health care provider, with public and private primary care patients.SubjectsPCPs who had performed video or online chat consultations with primary care patients for at least 6 months.Main Outcome MeasurementsPCPs' perceptions and views working remotely in online chat and video consultations.ResultsTwo main themes describing how PCPs perceived remote consultations emerged: 1) remote consultations have an impact on the way physicians work, and 2) remote consultations have an impact on the service system and patients. The subthemes of the first main theme included the physicians' new way of working, impacts on physicians' well-being, and impacts on communication and physician competences. The subthemes for the second main theme were the importance of smoothness of services for the patients, patient suitability, and technical liabilities.ConclusionRemote consultations provide PCPs with a new way of working that could improve work-life balance. However, it is important to maintain sufficient clinical competence through versatile work. Digital consultations can make contacting healthcare smoother and easier for patients if the patient selection is performed carefully. Online chat seems suitable for singular contacts and simple issues, but remote consultations could be used to sustain continuity of care.

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