Telehealth for the Initial Evaluation of Musculoskeletal Disorders: Perspectives of Patients, Healthcare Providers and Key Stakeholders Through Semi‐Structured Interviews in France

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and acceptability of remote care have now been demonstrated for many musculoskeletal disorders (MSKDs). However, the acceptability and potential uses of an initial remote evaluation for MSKDs have been scarcely studied and may be lower because of the loss of physical contact during the physical examination. OBJECTIVE: To explore the use of telehealth for the initial evaluation of MSKDs in France and to provide an in-depth understanding of its application, benefits and barriers. METHODS: Twenty-nine semi-structured interviews were conducted in France with patients, healthcare providers (family physicians, musculoskeletal medical specialists and physiotherapists), professional body representatives and telehealth software specialists. Five tailored interview guides adapted from a previous qualitative study were used. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and a reflexive thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Participants found initial remote evaluations innovative for improving access but disagreed on the optimal scope and use. Four key themes were identified: (1) remote evaluation as a continuum from triage to diagnosis, conditioned by the perceived validity and feasibility of the adapted physical examination; (2) telehealth can complicate the patient-provider relationship; (3) videoconferencing is common, but its use in medical consultations may increase workload and burden; and (4) unlocking the full potential of telehealth requires coordinated planning and action as well as system-level support. CONCLUSIONS: Participants consistently identified remote triage as an acceptable initial stage in implementing remote evaluations for patients with MSKDs. Successful implementation will likely require targeted support for both patients and healthcare providers in conducting remote evaluations.