Use of e-health in general practices during the covid-19 pandemic

Background and purpose – The covid-19 pandemic has forced general practices to look for ways to deliver care safely, by the use of remote healthcare solutions such as e-health. The aim of this study is to investigate the use of e-health in general practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, and theintention of general practices to continue using e-health tools more intensively in the near future.

Methods – Web surveys were sent to all Dutch general practices at two moments during the pandemic: in April 2020, during the first wave of the pandemic in the Netherlands, and in July 2020, between the first and second wave, when infection numbers were lower. The surveys contained questions on the use of specific e-health tools, including e-consultations and video calling.

Results – 75%of the general practices indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic caused them to start using e-health applications or made them to intensify these in April 2020. In July 2020, almost all practices indicated that they used at least one e-health application (98%). Online prescriptions ordering service and e-consultations were used by more than 80% of all practices. However, a minority of practices (<33%) answered that they intend to use (new) e-health applications more intensively after the pandemic. Some significant differences were found in the use of specific e-health applications between different practice types.

Conclusions – This study confirms the expectation that there was an increased uptake of e-health applications in Dutch general practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. The relative low number of practices that intend to sustain the increased usage of e-health in their practice in the future may point towards a temporary uptake of digital health care delivery, rather than accelerated implementation of digital processes.