Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Remote Teleconsultations to Traditional In-Person Consultations for Safety in Hospital Follow-Up

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the safety of remote consultations, including video and telephone calls, compared to traditional face-to-face visits for patients followed up in a hospital setting. This randomized-controlled trial involves 2136 patients and aims to determine if remote consultations lead to a similar rate of complications related to the underlying diseases. The study excludes patients who require physical exams or have impairments affecting communication, as well as those involved in other clinical trials with experimental treatments. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups face-to-face consultations, telephone consultations, or video consultations. In the face-to-face group, patients will have in-person appointments with limited phone interactions allowed. For the remote consultation groups, patients will receive reminders and either wait for a phone call or join a virtual waiting room for video calls. Physicians schedule visits as needed, including baseline, intermediate, and final visits within approximately one year. During the study, participants will undergo at least three visits, including initial screening, follow-ups, and a final visit around 12 months after enrollment. Researchers will monitor the frequency of disease complications, treatment adverse reactions, hospitalizations, unscheduled medical contacts, and healthcare costs. They will also assess the usability of the video system and satisfaction of both patients and health professionals. The study observes patients outcomes and safety throughout this period.

Open Label Randomized Clinical Trial to Assess the Safety of Teleconsultation