Swedish Collaboration on Digital Care Research

Digital consultations in healthcare include many different forms of contacts between patients and healthcare professionals using digital channels/platforms. Digital consultations occur both in primary care and specialist outpatient care.

The number of digital consultations have increased rapidly in Swedish healthcare over the past 5-years, not least during the pandemic.

In parallel with the practical implementation of digital consultations, a number of research projects have been initiated to evaluate certain aspects of digital consultations; ranging from design and implementation to evaluations of impact. The projects aim to analyse both clinical effects of digital consultations, and the financial impact of such care.

Through qualitative research, effects on the work environment and patients’ experiences of care are studied.

The impact of contextual differences in healthcare organizations on the implementation and use of digital consultations are also studied, e.g. differences between primarily digital healthcare providers and more traditional providers.

In the planned and ongoing research projects, researchers from multiple areas and disciplines from the majority of Swedish universities participate. In addition, research is ongoing outside the academic environments that is relevant for university based researchers.

Considering the ongoing development in this area, and the great interest from researchers from different fields, we have identified a need to create a national Swedish research collaboration for digital consultations and digital care.

The aim of the collaboration or network is to strengthen research in this area, to inform each other and others on ongoing and planned research, coordinate research initiatives and spread research results to the surrounding society.