Video Calls in Danish GP Offices: A New Way to Care?

Walking into a Danish general practitioner's (GP) office and instead of waiting for an in-person appointment, you can simply talk to your doctor via a video call. This is the future that political stakeholders in Denmark are pushing for. By the end of 2024, GPs must offer video consultations. But how does this change the way care is provided? To find out, researchers interviewed 30 GPs and spent 132 hours observing seven clinics from August 2021 to August 2022.They analyzed the data, looking at how GPs and their staff adapt—or "fit"—video consultations into their idea of good care. The results showed that video calls can save patients and doctors time, help those who can't easily visit a clinic, and make the job more enjoyable for GPs. This study shows that while video consultations offer many benefits, it's crucial to consider how they fit into the bigger picture of healthcare.