A new study from the University of Gothenburg reveals that digital health care consultations fall short in safely diagnosing tonsillitis, underscoring the necessity of in-person medical assessments.
New research from the University of Gothenburg has revealed that digital health care consultations are not adequate for the safe diagnosis of tonsillitis, heightening the risks of over- or undertreatment. The study, led by doctoral student Patrycja Woldan-Gradalska, is a crucial reminder of the importance of physical examinations in medical assessments.
Tonsillitis is a frequent cause for doctor visits and antibiotic prescriptions in primary care settings. Physicians often rely on the Centor Criteria to determine if a patient requires antibiotics. These criteria include the presence of fever, swollen and tender lymph nodes, and a visual inspection of the tonsils.
With the growing popularity of digital health care consultations, there has been uncertainty regarding the efficacy of diagnosing tonsillitis through remote methods. This study, published in the journal Infectious Diseases, investigates whether digital assessments match the reliability of traditional physical examinations.
The research included 189 patients who sought care at various health care clinics in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, between January 2020 and October 2023. Each patient was evaluated twice — once via a digital medical consultation and once through an in-person examination performed by another doctor.
The findings indicate that digital consultations fail to accurately assess key criteria, such as inspecting the tonsils and examining the lymph nodes. This gap in reliable diagnosis could lead to improper treatment plans for patients.
“Our study shows that although digital health care consultations are convenient for many patients, they are not reliable enough to assess tonsillitis. To ensure a correct diagnosis and treatment, it is still important to conduct a physical examination,” Woldan-Gradalska, who’s also a resident physician at Sätila Healthcare Clinic, said in a news release.
The study underscores the essential role of physical examinations in the accurate diagnosis and treatment of tonsillitis. It serves as a cautionary note for both health care providers and patients who might be inclined to rely solely on the convenience of digital health care consultations.
With digital health care’s rise due to advancements in technology and the need for remote medical services, findings like these highlight the limitations and scope of telemedicine. Proper diagnosis and treatment remain central to the efficacy of any health care delivery method, reminding us that in-person consultations continue to play a critical role in patient care.