Quality of care for remote orthopaedic consultations using telemedicine: a randomised controlled trial

Table 4 Ancillary results according to location^a

	UNN, standard consultation (n = 190)	RMC, video conference consultation (n = 199)	P- value^**
Consultation durations, minutes^b	20.9 ± 7.47	20.5 ± 8.9	0.603
Operation
Referred to surgery	33 (17 %)	22 (11 %)	0.074
Operated	26 (14 %)	22(11 %)	0.431
Referred again within 2 years
Overall (n = 190 + 199)	19 (10 %)	21 (11 %)	0.858
Among “discharged patient” (n = 145 + 159)^c	12 (8 %)	18 (11 %)	0.373
Number of consultations per included
Overall (n = 190 + 199)	1.35 ± 0.78	1.52 ± 0.91	0.057
New referred^d (n = 69 + 81)	1.06 ± 0.29	1.17 ± 0.44	0.067
Control patients^e (n = 121 + 118)	1.52 ± 0.91	1.75 ± 1.01	0.071
Complication
Overall (n = 190 + 199)^g	40 (21 %)	33 (17 %)	0.259
Patient reported at 3 month,(n = 109 + 119)^f	15 (14 %)	16 (13 %)	0.095
Patient reported at 12 month, (n = 132 + 133)^f	23 (17 %)	14 (11 %)	0.105

UNN University Hospital of North Norway, RMC Regional Medical Centre
^a Values are mean ± SD and number (percent)
^b 553 consultations, missing data: 4 of 257 in UNN and 3 of 302 in RMC group
^c Patient with no appointment at orthopedic department within 6 month for the actual disorder, presented according to location. (Patient neither referred to operation nor to a required standard consultation or follow-up for chronic disorder)
^d One patient in each group did not meet to follow up consultation
^e Cause of consultation – control after elective surgery, trauma or chronic diseases
^f Denominator/number differs due to non-item response, presented according to location
^g Evaluation of the patient’s records and patient reported at 3 and 12 months, presented according to location
^** P-value calculated with t-test or chi square test when appropriate

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