Abstract
Objectives
To examine whether the phrasing of a hospital appointment invitation influences patient preference to attend in person or by video. The study also explores patient capabilities, opportunities, and motivations to attend video consultations.
Design
A randomized controlled trial followed by a cross-sectional survey.
Methods
Participants (1,481 total, 780 females) were residents of the United Kingdom who self-identified as being diagnosed with a chronic disease. Participants considered one of three hypothetical invitations. In one group, participants were invited to attend in person. Those in another group were invited to attend by video. These participants could either accept the invitation or request the other option. In the final ‘active choice’ group, participants were asked to choose to attend either in-person or by video appointment. Then, all participants responded to open- and closed-ended items about attending video consultations.
Results
When the default option was in person, 25% of participants chose video consultation, compared with 41% in the active choice group (RR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.37–1.99, p < .001) and 65% in the default video group (RR = 2.60, 95% CI: 2.20–2.96, p < .001). Closed-ended responses suggested that younger patients and those with previous experience were more likely to prefer video consultations. Most open-ended responses contained themes about opportunities, followed by motivations and then capabilities.
Conclusions
Patients are more likely to express a preference to attend by video when video is the default option. The real-world effectiveness of this intervention is more likely to be realized where hospitals also support patient capabilities, opportunities, and motivations.
To examine whether the phrasing of a hospital appointment invitation influences patient preference to attend in person or by video. The study also explores patient capabilities, opportunities, and motivations to attend video consultations.
Design
A randomized controlled trial followed by a cross-sectional survey.
Methods
Participants (1,481 total, 780 females) were residents of the United Kingdom who self-identified as being diagnosed with a chronic disease. Participants considered one of three hypothetical invitations. In one group, participants were invited to attend in person. Those in another group were invited to attend by video. These participants could either accept the invitation or request the other option. In the final ‘active choice’ group, participants were asked to choose to attend either in-person or by video appointment. Then, all participants responded to open- and closed-ended items about attending video consultations.
Results
When the default option was in person, 25% of participants chose video consultation, compared with 41% in the active choice group (RR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.37–1.99, p < .001) and 65% in the default video group (RR = 2.60, 95% CI: 2.20–2.96, p < .001). Closed-ended responses suggested that younger patients and those with previous experience were more likely to prefer video consultations. Most open-ended responses contained themes about opportunities, followed by motivations and then capabilities.
Conclusions
Patients are more likely to express a preference to attend by video when video is the default option. The real-world effectiveness of this intervention is more likely to be realized where hospitals also support patient capabilities, opportunities, and motivations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | British Journal of Health Psychology |
| Early online date | 29 Jun 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 29 Jun 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The current project was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Centre (ARC) West Midlands, grant number NIHR200165, of which author RL is the director. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR, ARC, or the Department of Health and Social Care. The funders had no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript. We would also like to thank Sarah Damery (from the University of Birmingham) for helping us describe video consultations in the opening text of the online survey.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. British Journal of Health Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society
Keywords
- behaviour change
- communication
- default effect
- patient satisfaction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Applied Psychology