Authors: MINDD
Introduction
The app “Moet ik naar de dokter?” appears to provide good support for people who are unsure whether to contact the huisartsenpost. The effect of using the app was investigated.
Method
In the first quarter of 2018, a survey was offered in the app to users immediately after they received the self-triage advice (n=3,449).
Results
42.7% of respondents received advice not to go to a doctor or huisartsenpost. Of these, 89.8% indicated that they would follow the advice. 57% of respondents received advice to contact their huisarts(enpost), of whom 54% indicated that they would follow the advice. Of the users who indicated that they would not follow the advice (31%), 42% indicated that they only wanted to try out the app, 19% did not trust the outcome of the app, and 39% trusted the outcome of the app but wanted more certainty. The intended effect of the app was determined by multiplying the percentage of users who received advice not to see a doctor (42.7%) by the percentage who actually followed this advice (89.8%). The intended effect of the app “Moet ik naar de dokter?” is therefore 38.3%. This means that 38.3% of users of the app will not unnecessarily contact the huisarts(enpost). Efficiently organizing patient referrals to the huisartsenpost through self-triage of the app “Moet ik naar de dokter?” could lead to significantly fewer unnecessary calls and procedures at the huisartsenpost.
Conclusion
38.3% of app users do not need to go to the huisartsenpost and actually follow this advice. However, further research is needed to determine the actual effect of the app on the number of calls and procedures at the huisartsenpost.