Abstract
BACKGROUND: GPs can use video when performing telephone triage in out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC) in Denmark. Video use varies considerably among GPs; this variation could be related to GP characteristics. AIM: To investigate associations between GP characteristics and video use in OOH-PC telephone triage. DESIGN & SETTING: A register-based study using data from the OOH-PC registration system from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. METHOD: Binomial regression analysis was used to measure the associations between video contacts and triage GP characteristics, thereby calculating risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Video was used in 10.8% of telephone triage contacts to OOH-PC. Video use was significantly associated with GPs having more shifts in OOH-PC (RR: 1.36-1.93, reference: low number of shifts) and GPs being younger (RR: 0.84-0.67, reference: age<40 years). Central Denmark Region and Region of Southern Denmark had significant higher video-user rates (RR: 1.23-1.46) than North Denmark Region, whereas Region Zealand had significant lower rates (RR = 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.38 to 0.87). The association between video use and GP sex was modified by number of shifts in OOH-PC. Video use was positively correlated with male sex among GPs with low, medium, and high number of shifts (RR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.29) and negatively correlated with male sex among GPs with very high number of shifts (RR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.58 to 0.98). CONCLUSION: Video use was associated with the number of shifts in OOH-PC, GP sex and age, and geographical region.