Studies of symptom checkers as part of an electronic consultation system
| Reference | Study design | System type | Comparator | Population/sample |
| Carter et al
24
UK | · Uncontrolled observational Mixed-method evaluation | · Online webGP (subsequently known as eConsult) | · Other Investigate patient experience by surveying patients who had used webGP and comparing their experience with controls (patients who had received a face-to-face consultation during the same time period) matched for age and gender | · General population General practices in NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group’s area |
| Cowie et al25
UK | · Uncontrolled observational 6-month evaluation at 11 GP practices in Scotland | · Online eConsult, accessed via GP surgery websites. Service provides self-care assessment and advice, including symptom checkers; triage and signposting to alternative services; access to NHS24 (phone service) and e-consults allowing submission of details by email) | · None | · General population Patients registered with participating GP practices |
| Madan26
UK | · Uncontrolled observational Report of 6-month pilot study | · Online webGP (subsequently known as eConsult) | · None | · General population |
| NHS England7
UK | · Uncontrolled observational Analysis of data from four pilot studies together with data from other sources | · Multiple Pilots featured NHS pathways (web based; West Yorkshire); Sense.ly (‘voice-activated avatar’; West Midlands); Espert 24 (Web-based; Suffolk) and babylon (app; North Central London) | · None Authors stated that it was not appropriate to compare pilot sites because of differences in starting date, ‘footprints’ covered, method of uptake and underlying population | · General population |
| Nijland et al27
Netherlands | · Other Online survey | · Online Responses of interest relate to ‘indirect e-consultation’ (consulting a GP via secure email with intervention of a web-based triage system) | · None | · General population Patients with Internet access but no experience of e-consultation |
GP, general practitioner; NHS, National Health Service.