Effectiveness of Internet-Based physical examination model for focus populations in the community: A community demonstration trial (Preprint)

BACKGROUND There is strong evidence that the use of Internet-based interventions can promote the efficiency of physical examination. So far, few studies have investigated the effectiveness of Internet-Based physical examination model for focus populations in the community. OBJECTIVE The study aimed at assessing the feasibility and effectiveness of an Internet-Based physical examination model for focus populations in the community. METHODS This was a health economic evaluation alongside a community demonstration trial,with 12 months follow-up. Participants were over 65 years old and those with chronic diseases 35 years old and above. The Internet-Based model was tested in the Dashi Street Community, Panyu District, Guangzhou, China in 2021. A total of 5,864 persons were included in the traditional model, and 8,097 in the Internet-Based model. We introduced a cost-benefit analysis(cost-benefit ratio,net benefit) to examine the effects on patients and healthcare staff compared between the 2 models. RESULTS The Internet-Based model, comparing to the Traditional model, was associated with higher clinic rate (37.83% vs. 25.12%, odds ratio [OR] = 1.81), higher rates of newly established health records for the elderly (17% vs. 8%, OR = 2.25), higher rates of newly established records for persons with hypertension (7% vs. 2%, OR = 4.00), and higher rates of newly established records for persons with diabetes (3% vs.1%, OR = 3.54) (all, P < 0.05). The annual total labor cost decreased by 22.09%, but the annual medical costs of resident physical examinations increased by 57%. The total benefit of new health documentation was increased by 114%. The satisfaction with physical examinations and the willingness to seek medical treatment at community health service centers were both increased compared to the traditional model (both, P < 0.05). The time waiting for physical examinations of patients of different ages was shorter (P<0.001), and the benefit-to-cost ratio and net benefit were higher (2.45 vs. 1.26;833,100 vs. 190,700). CONCLUSIONS Internet-Based physical examination model for focus populations in the community were better than those of the traditional model. It’s worthy of further application and promotion to improve the health management effect of community focus populations.