Factors influencing physician-to-physician teleconsultation: a scoping review.

Abstract

Teleconsultation has gained significant traction due to advancements in information and communication technologies. While much attention has been given to physician-to-patient teleconsultation, the factors influencing physician-to-physician teleconsultation remain underexplored. This scoping review aims to map and synthesise the existing evidence on the factors influencing physician-to-physician teleconsultation. We included publications of all methodological designs that specifically addressed factors affecting physician-to-physician teleconsultation. Studies focusing primarily on physician-to-patient teleconsultation without sufficient detail on physician-to-physician components were excluded. The search was limited to articles published in English and Persian between 2014 and 2024. Eight electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, etc) were searched from January 2014 to June 2024. Data extraction was performed by two independent reviewers using a standardised form. Extracted data included study characteristics, key factors influencing teleconsultation and main findings. From 12 included studies, five key influencing components were identified: 'patient-related factors', 'medical team competencies', 'infrastructure and technology', 'timing factors' and 'planning and programme evaluation'. Among these, infrastructure and technology were the most frequently reported factors across the studies, while patient-related factors were less commonly addressed. This review identifies a comprehensive set of factors that influence physician-to-physician teleconsultation. The findings provide a foundation for developing effective teleconsultation programmes and highlight the need for more research in diverse healthcare settings.