PhD dissertation explores video triage in out-of-hours primary care
Out-of-hours primary care is under pressure due to high demand for services. A PhD project has now investigated the potential value of using video in triage calls.
Out-of-hours primary care is challenged by high service demand, heavy workload and staff shortages. This often results in long patient waiting times. Video has recently been introduced in triage calls, allowing the triage doctor to assess the patient visually.
Video triage may reduce the need for more resource-intensive care, such as face-to-face consultations. Therefore, video visitation might be a solution to some of the current challenges in emergency care.
A new PhD project from Aarhus University, Health, has explored the value of using video in after-hours triage calls, and how video affects resource utilisation, clinical decision-making and the patient experience.
Video offers significant benefits
The findings indicate that using video triage in out-of-hours primary care has significant benefits, including reduced resource consumption, higher quality of clinical decision-making and improved patient and doctor experience.
However, implementing video triage requires a focus on communication, patient involvement and responsibility to maintain a trusting doctor-patient relationship and the relational dimensions of care.
Oral defence on 11 April 2025
Mette Amalie Nebsbjerg will defend her PhD dissertation entitled ”From voice to vision: Exploring the potential value of video triage in out-of-hours primary care” on Friday 11 April 2025 at 14:00 in the auditorium (room 201) at Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies (AIAS), building 1632, Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B, 8000 Aarhus C.
The defence is public. Everyone is welcome to attend. After the PhD defence, the Research Unit for General Practice will host a small reception in room 1261-118, building 1261, at the Department of Public Health, Aarhus University.
About the project
The PhD dissertation and the four included scientific papers present the results of a three-year enrolment at the Graduate School of Health, Aarhus University. The project was conducted at the Research Unit for General Practice in Aarhus.
The project was supported by unrestricted grants from the Danish health insurance foundation “Sygeforsikringen danmark”, the Foundation for Primary Health Care Research (Praksisforskningsfonden), the Committee of Multipractice Studies in General Practice (MPU) and the Committee for Quality Improvement and Continuing Medical Education in general practice (KEU) in the Central Denmark Region, and the Department of Public Health at Aarhus University.
Further information
PhD student Mette Amalie Nebsbjerg
Aarhus University, Department of Public Health &
Research Unit for General Practice
man@ph.au.dk, (+45) 2464 7244
Four studies in the project
- Use of video in telephone triage in out-of-hours primary care: register-based study. Nebsbjerg MA, Vestergaard CH, Bomholt KB, Christensen MB, Huibers L. JMIR Med Inform 2024;12:e47039. doi: 10.2196/47039.
- The added value of using video in out-of-hours primary care telephone triage among general practitioners: cross-sectional survey study. Nebsbjerg MA, Bomholt KB, Vestergaard CH, Christensen MB, Huibers L JMIR Hum Factors 2024;11:e5230. doi: 10.2196/52301.
- Reasons for encounter in video contacts at a Danish out-of-hours primary care service: a questionnaire study. Nebsbjerg MA, Bomholt KB, Vestergaard CH, et al. BMJ Open 2024;14:e086716. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-086716.
- How do parents experience video triage when seeking care for their acute ill children? A qualitative study in a Danish out-of-hours primary care setting. Nebsbjerg MA, Bomholt KB, Christensen MB, et al. BMJ Open 2024;14:e084656. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2024-084656.