Recommendations Regarding the Appropriateness of Virtual Care: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Digital Health
• Clinical Decision Support

Background:

• The rapid expansion of virtual care necessitates clear guidelines for its appropriate use.
• Determining the optimal care modality (virtual vs. in-person) is crucial for effective healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze factors influencing the appropriateness of virtual and in-person care.
• To synthesize evidence-based recommendations for healthcare providers on selecting care settings.
• To develop a decision-making tool for virtual versus in-person care suitability.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies and clinical practice guidelines.
• Searches conducted across four major databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, APA PsychInfo) and Google Scholar (2014-2024).
• Thematic analysis used to categorize influencing factors, leading to the development of a clinical decision-making flowchart.

Main Results:

• 83 articles were included in the review.
• Six primary concepts and 22 subconcepts influencing virtual care appropriateness were identified.
• These concepts include patient characteristics, clinical presentation, care process stage, burden of care, provider factors, and technology.

Conclusions:

• The findings offer clinicians a structured framework for evaluating virtual vs. in-person care.
• This supports evidence-based decision-making and the effective integration of virtual care.
• A developed flowchart aids in determining the most suitable care modality for individual patient needs.