University affiliation
Umeå University
Main supervisor
Malin Sjöström, associate professor, consultant (attending) physician
PhD project participating in the National Research School in General Medicine.
Does the need for care decrease when patients use automated advice? For a few years now, the digital assessment tool 1177 has been used directly as a supplement to traditional nurse assessment via telephone. We are evaluating how the subsequent need for care is affected by each assessment method and how patients themselves experience these tools.
Background
By using digital triage tools, patients can evaluate their health problems via the internet and receive care at the appropriate level of care, known as triage. These tools are increasingly used globally. In recent years, a national digital triage tool has been introduced in Sweden – 1177 direkt. The triage outcome for both conventional telephone triage via 1177 by telephone and digital auto-triage via 1177 direkt is one of the urgency levels 1–5, where 1 means immediate assessment (via 112), 2 urgent (within one to a few hours), 3 within the next 24 hours, 4 within the next weekday (1 week) and 5 wait, where the patient also receives self-care advice.
Aim
The overall purpose of this project is to evaluate the digital service 1177 direkt and 1177 by telephone, regarding subsequent care needs after each triage method, as well as the patients' user experiences.
Method
This doctoral project includes four studies:
1. Register-based cohort study to evaluate whether the proportion of patients who received care within the stipulated time is lower for those who were auto-triaged via 1177 direkt compared to those who were triaged via 1177 by telephone (within one week of triage).
2. Register-based cohort study with follow-up of the patients in study 1 after one month, regarding healthcare utilization, sick leave and mortality during the first month after triage, regarding those who were auto-triaged via 1177 direkt and 1177 by telephone, respectively.
3. Qualitative interview study with patients (n=15–30) regarding their experiences of digitalized triage via 1177 direkt.
4. Qualitative interview study with patients (n=15–30) regarding their experiences of triage via 1177 by telephone.
The project is a collaboration between Umeå University, Mid Sweden University and Region Jämtland Härjedalen. Funding is available through the Swedish Research Council.
Relevance
Our research project aims to conduct a thorough scientific evaluation of 1177 direkt, which has already been introduced in several regions in Sweden. The research is important to ensure that the goals of increased access to safe healthcare, good patient satisfaction, and reduced pressure on primary care are achieved. The results of the research project will contribute to an evidence-based introduction of the national triage system 1177 direkt. Almost all Swedes seeking professional healthcare advice will directly benefit from this, as it involves the development of a new organization of healthcare.
University affiliation
Umeå University
Main supervisor
Malin Sjöström, associate professor, consultant (attending) physician