VOCAL - Virtual Online Consultations: Advantages and Limitations
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Virtual Online Consultations: Advantages and Limitations: A qualitative study of micro, meso and macro level interactions
IRAS ID
160789
Contact name
Trisha Greenhalgh
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
The study will inform the implementation of clinician-patient consultations via Skype. We will study two services: Diabetes at Newham Hospital and Pancreatic/Liver Cancer at the Royal London Hospital. We will seek a purposive sample of up to 30 diabetes consultations and up to 15 cancer consultations.
We will use ethnographic methods to study the interactional dynamics by generating a multi-modal dataset (audio, video and computer screen capture). Recordings will incorporate two video streams: what the clinician sees and does in the clinic, and what the patient sees and does at their home.
Each consultation will be recorded using a digital camcorder and screen capture software to record actions, talk and screen images showing on each party’s computer. We will interview participants to capture their experience prior to, and reflections following, the consultation.
Conventional transcription by the research team will be used for most of the data, and conversation analysis will be used judiciously for what might be termed ‘telling moments’ in the consultation. Each case will be written up as an individual case study, We will offer to share the case narrative with the index case, to refine it if they do not believe that key aspects of their experience have been adequately captured. In addition we will conduct naturalistic interviews with patients and service staff to capture their experience and perspective on the video option.
Whilst the main focus of this study is on generating transferable new knowledge about the nature of video consultations, we have included an action research component. We will work with local senior managers and commissioners to understand and implement the organisational change required to support the use of Skype consultations. We will bring staff together six monthly, for a consolidating learning workshop, including gathering feedback from all those involved in the video consultation model.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1883
Date of REC Opinion
9 Dec 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion