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The researchers emphasize the need to adapt telehealth strategies to include structured follow-ups and screenings.
By Shula Rosen
A recent Israeli study has raised concerns about the effectiveness of telemedicine in promoting preventive health care.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, remote care and telehealth have been widely adopted as a convenient alternative to in-person doctor visits. However, the study, published in the Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, suggests that avoiding in-person examination by a physician may cause patients to neglect crucial health screenings.
Researchers used medical records from Maccabi Healthcare Services, one of Israel’s largest HMOs, for the study.
The researchers examined whether patients who mostly saw their primary care physicians (PCPs) remotely were as likely to undergo necessary screening tests as those who attended in-person appointments.
The study examined more than 600,000 individuals who were eligible for mammograms, fecal occult blood tests (FOBTs), and bone density scans (DEXA).
It divided participants into three groups: mostly face-to-face visits, mostly remote visits (video, phone or message), and a mixed group.
Interestingly, patients in the remote group were more likely to receive referrals for some screenings. However, this didn’t translate into follow-through. For all three tests, the lowest actual performance rates were consistently found in the remote group.
Only 44% of remote patients completed the FOBT, compared to 56.8% of face-to-face patients. Mammogram and DEXA performance also lagged among remote users.
One possible explanation, researchers suggest, is that telemedicine visits may focus more on immediate concerns rather than long-term health planning. “Perhaps being in the same room, or what we may call ‘the human factor,’ impacts compliance,” the authors wrote.
Despite its limitations—such as being a retrospective study during the COVID-19 era—the Israeli study offers clear insight: while referrals can be made remotely, patient follow-through may suffer.
“A referral from the PCP increased the odds of performing the test,” the study noted.
The researchers emphasize the need to adapt telehealth strategies to include structured follow-ups and reminders, ensuring preventive care isn’t left behind in the digital age.
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