470 Could Covid-19 Change the Way We Do Clinics for The Better? A Comparison of Remote Versus Outpatient Clinic Follow-Up for Surgical Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

As the Covid-19 pandemic hit the UK, the way the NHS operates changed overnight. One change was the move to remote appointments (RA) by video or telephone. This meta-analysis (MA) of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) looks at existing evidence on RA and aims to discover if surgical patients are satisfied with them. Method A literature search of RCTs of surgical patient satisfaction of RA versus conventional outpatient clinic (OPC) was performed. The PubMed, EMBASE and Google Scholar databases were searched to include articles from January 2000 to 2020. A random effects MA model was used to compare outcomes. Results All 5 RCTs showed that patients were as satisfied with RA as OPC (RR = 1.00, [0.97-1.03] p = 0.96). Furthermore, both patient cohorts would prefer RA for future follow-up (RR = 2.28 [1.85-2.82] p < 0.00001). 1 RCT performed a cost analysis and found the cost to institutions was less in the RA group ($19.05 vs $52.76). All other RCTs suggested cost to patients and institutions would be less for RA. Conclusions Surgical patients are satisfied with RA and in fact would prefer them, thus indicating that out with the Covid-19 pandemic RAs could be continued, and in doing so may well save money for patients and the NHS.