- Chat is positioned as the favorite channel for 61% of patients, ahead of videoconsultation
- Immunology and dermatology are the most requested specialties via chat. Psychology and traumatology via videoconsultation
- 1 out of every 2 conversations via chat between patients and doctors have been carried out without applying cost
Barcelona, May 16, 2019 – The relationship between patients and doctors is evolving and shortening distances thanks to Telemedicine. The efficiency of chat and videoconferencing services makes more and more patients and doctors rely on this type of services. This is confirmed by the data obtained by TibHealth.com, an online platform for finding and contacting the best medical specialists in private healthcare, which has analyzed the first 1,000 medical consultations via chat and videoconference.
Immunology and dermatology are the most requested specialties via chat. Psychology and traumatology via videoconsultation
Currently, the main use of videoconsultation and medical chat tools is associated with first consultations, since they require less face-to-face contact between patient and doctor, as they are usually used to resolve doubts. The chat would be the most selected option among users, since up to 61% of remote consultations were made through this channel, compared to 39% that were made through videoconsultation. Although the average price of chat contact is €20 and video consultation is €70, some doctors use these services at no cost to the patient, in order to follow up with them on a particular pathology or treatment. In fact, almost 1 out of 2 chats have been carried out at no cost.
Immunology, Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine are the specialties that have received the most consultations via chat. In the case of video consultation, Psychology, Traumatology and Dentistry are the branches in which patients have most trusted to make their consultations to doctors.
For doctors, the main advantages of using this type of communication system with patients are the fact that they can keep an instant and direct line of conversation open while protecting the privacy of their direct telephone.
Young people between 25-40 years of age and mostly women
The patient who uses Telemedicine is mostly female (62%), and with a young average age between 25-40 years old. The eDoctor, on the other hand, is male. Up to 70% of them are men, compared to 30% of female doctors who make use of chat and video medical consultation.
“It is expected that more and more doctors will begin to incorporate not only this type of remote online communication services, but also monitoring systems, telediagnosis or digital data storage. But we are aware that there is still a long way to go, as the sector is in the midst of a process of change, and there are still many barriers to be broken down,” says Alberto E. Porciani, CEO of Top Doctors.