Video consultations are suitable for diagnosing acute conditions, according to doctors in the UAE.
A study led by Abu Dhabi's Khalifa University found that for the ongoing monitoring of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, doctors tended to regard audio consultations as adequate.
The findings come after more than a year in which many hospitals and surgeries have minimised face-to-face consultations and opted for virtual appointments.
As technology takes a huge place in healthcare services, we need to reduce the pressure load on physicians and healthcare systems
The study's first author, Dr Noora Alhajri, said with acute conditions, clinical outcomes were likely to be better with video consultations compared to telephone calls.
"You can see the patient. You can evaluate virtually the site of pathology," she said. "If the patient says, 'I have a swelling in my arm,' it can show the clinician the place of the trauma. The physician can conduct a guided examination.
"Sometimes the facial features will give an insight about how bad the pain is and the underlying conditions. If that's missing, it will make the clinical diagnosis harder."
The new research, published in the JMIR Medical Informatics journal, was based on responses from more than 623 doctors at outpatient facilities in Abu Dhabi that had telemedicine services in November and December last year.
Just over half of doctors had confidence in managing acute conditions by video, with less than one-fifth taking the opposite view. Only about 40 per cent had confidence in managing acute conditions using audio consultations.
When managing chronic conditions or carrying out follow-up appointments, about four-fifths of doctors had confidence in audio or video consultations.
The research also found doctors with prior experience of telemedicine were more confident that conditions would not be misdiagnosed when using the technology.
According to figures published last year by consultancy McKinsey, the proportion of patients in the US using telemedicine went up from 11 per cent to 46 per cent during the pandemic.
Healthcare institutions are now considering how to manage consultations over the longer term in a world where Covid-19 is likely to remain.
As much as $250 billion of US healthcare spending could involve telemedicine, McKinsey said, up from just a few billion dollars before the pandemic.
While some technology companies are poised for a windfall, such as those in the UK, patients have expressed concern about being unable to secure face-to-face appointments.
Dr Alhajri said that with technology platforms able to record a patient's blood pressure or heart rate, video consultations could, in some circumstances, be as useful as face-to-face appointments.
"If such platforms are implemented … they may simulate the in-person visit," she said.
"They might in time replace the in-person visit, but you cannot apply that to every case.
"There are cases involving trauma. You cannot assess someone with a gunshot wound through telemedicine."
One approach is, she said, to have a nurse make initial contact with the patient and decide if audio, video or in-person consultation was needed.
“As technology takes a huge place in healthcare services, we need to reduce the pressure load on physicians and healthcare systems,” she added.
Dr Davinder Pal Singh, a cardiologist at NMC Royal Hospital at Dubai Investments Park, agreed that telephone consultations tended to work well for patients with previously diagnosed chronic conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes. He added, though, that video consultations offered additional information.
“You can have a look at the patient,” he said. “It can give us some more views about his illness. It will add to the consultation. Maybe we can get a better view [of the] symptoms and he can show us something.”
With audio consultations alone, doctors may miss useful information sometimes available by video, said Dr Ashar Jamal, an emergency doctor at Al Zahra Hospital in Sharjah.
“With the video consultation, you’re looking at them rather than talking to them, which is superior to the audio consultation,” he said, while adding that in his speciality, physical consultations were typically needed.
“Sometimes patients are calling from home for advice, but in the emergency, it’s a bit of a risk to diagnose over the phone. We prefer to see the patient.”
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Jawan
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The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
PSG's line up
GK: Alphonse Areola (youth academy)
Defence - RB: Dani Alves (free transfer); CB: Marquinhos (€31.4 million); CB: Thiago Silva (€42m); LB: Layvin Kurzawa (€23m)
Midfield - Angel di Maria (€47m); Adrien Rabiot (youth academy); Marco Verratti (€12m)
Forwards - Neymar (€222m); Edinson Cavani (€63m); Kylian Mbappe (initial: loan; to buy: €180m)
Total cost: €440.4m (€620.4m if Mbappe makes permanent move)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m; Winner: Mcmanaman, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
6.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Bawaasil, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Bochart, Fabrice Veron, Satish Seemar
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Mutaraffa, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
7.50pm: Longines Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,00 (D) 1,900m; Winner: Rare Ninja, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.25pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alfareeq, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
9pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
9.35pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Zorion, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
Five%20calorie-packed%20Ramadan%20drinks
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More coverage from the Future Forum
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
England XI for second Test
Rory Burns, Keaton Jennings, Ben Stokes, Joe Root (c), Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes (wk), Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Jack Leach, James Anderson
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
RESULTS
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The%20specs
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
