The CONNECT Project: investigating patient preferences for virtual consultations in orthopaedic rehabilitation

This research project is investigating the factors that influence patient preferences for virtual consultations. The research is split across five empirical studies:

1. A review of previously published research to see how virtual consultations affect what patients need to do in the rehabilitation process.
2. Interviews with patients and hospital staff to see what factors shape preferences for patients – these include the patient’s situation, what they expect of rehabilitation, what is required of the patient and the resources they have to do what is required.
3. A survey of patients to understand how much these factors influence their preferences for either virtual or face-to-face consultations.
4. Interviews with patients to understand the impact of COVID-19 on preferences.
5. Interviews with patients, clinicians and non-clinical staff to understand their experiences of using virtual consultations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The results from these studies will be used to design a pathway of care that considers patient preferences for the use of virtual consultations.

This research is funded by Health Education England and supported by the NIHR through a Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship awarded to Anthony Gilbert. 

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
University of Southampton