Video consultations are quicker, easier and less expensive than in-person visits, study finds

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Virtual consultations are just as effective as in-person visits when preparing patients for surgeries, according to new research from Amsterdam University Medical Center.

The trial, published June 15 in The Lancet Digital Health, found no difference in patient satisfaction or information recall between patients who met their physicians online and those who came into the clinic. What did change? Time, money and environmental impact.

Same outcomes, less time

Researchers enrolled 120 Dutch patients scheduled for complex abdominal procedures, including liver and pancreatic surgeries. Half were randomly assigned to have a preoperative consultation over secure video, while the other half came to the clinic.

Patients in both groups scored nearly identically on two key measures: satisfaction with the consultation (85.4/100 for video vs. 85.2 for in-person) and information recall (7.30/11 for video vs. 7.25 for in-person).

“The use of online video consultation during surgical consultation for major abdominal surgery was non-inferior to face-to-face consultation in terms of patient satisfaction and did not substantially affect information recall,” the study’s authors wrote.

Patients save time, money and CO₂ emissions

The benefits of video visits extended far beyond the exam room. Patients who used virtual consults saved an average of two hours per appointment, mostly by avoiding travel and waiting time. They also avoided out-of-pocket expenses — a median of €17.90 ($20.75 USD) per in-person visit — and reduced their carbon footprint by 99%.

“For patients with a long travel time or without travel guidance, a physical consultation can be a considerable barrier,” said lead author Britte ten Haaft, M.D. “Moreover, the health care sector is responsible for 7% of total CO₂ emissions in the Netherlands — so let’s use video calling where possible.”

Home setting may enhance comfort

Patients often appreciated being at home during consultations, where they could review complex information with family present.

“Many patients enjoyed processing the explanation at home, in a familiar environment with family present,” said study co-author Marc Besselink, M.D., Ph.D., professor of surgery at Amsterdam UMC. “Discussing a CT scan or surgery image also went well online.”

Few technical hiccups and wide applicability

Just 7% of patients in the video group reported technical issues, all of which were resolved during the call. Video consults worked well across age groups and regardless of patients’ health literacy or digital skills, the researchers found.

Most patients and surgeons said they would recommend video consultations to others. None of the patients in the video group requested an in-person follow-up to repeat the conversation.

Implications for future care

Marlies Schijven, M.D., Ph.D., professor of digital health at Amsterdam UMC, called the findings a “fantastic expansion of the contact options with patients.

“It is important for health care providers to know that they can safely offer patients a video consultation, with all the benefits that come with it,” Schijven sad. “… A great step towards future-proof health care.”

While focused on surgical care, the findings also hold clear relevance for primary care. Virtual consultations could also help busy practices reduce in-office congestion, extend access to homebound or rural patients and lower barriers to routine follow-ups or chronic care check-ins.

For physicians managing growing patient panels, video visits may offer a more flexible and sustainable option — especially when paired with patient education or care coordination tools.

The evidence that comprehension and satisfaction remain intact supports broader telehealth adoption across specialties. For primary care practices evaluating when and how to incorporate virtual visits, the findings offer timely validation that patient-centered care doesn’t always require face-to-face interaction.