Investigating interprofessional competence needs for on-demand virtual consultations in home-hospital care: an interpretive description study to inform the development of educational materials

Background On-demand virtual consultations have emerged as a strategic response to healthcare system pressures; however, the integration of on-demand virtual consultations into hospital practice remains limited. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) often lack training in conducting on-demand virtual consultations, which may encompass remote clinical assessments. This study aimed to investigate the experiences and competence needs of HCPs conducting on-demand virtual consultations in home-hospital care settings in order to inform the development of educational materials that support this emerging clinical practice. Methods Using Interpretive Description, the study employed user journey mapping, a focus group interview and a stakeholder workshop at a Danish surgical department. The data were analysed through meaning condensation and reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes were developed: (1) Cultivating presence in physical absence highlighted challenges in expressing empathy and conducting assessments without tactile input; (2) Building clinical competence in virtual practice addressed the need for communicative, clinical and technical skills; (3) Technology that complies with trust emphasised the interplay between digital infrastructure, ethics and professional confidence; (4) Navigating the realities of remote practice captured organisational and individual attitudes towards integrating virtual care. Conclusions On-demand virtual consultations represent a fundamental transformation of clinical practice rather than a purely technical innovation. The findings indicate that safe and effective virtual care requires the development of integrated communicative, clinical, technical and ethical competencies, as well as professional adaptation to digitally mediated forms of presence and clinical judgement. Sustainable implementation further depends on organisational and structural support, including reliable technology and clear frameworks for practice. Evidence-based, practice-oriented educational materials are therefore essential to support quality, patient safety and professional confidence in virtual hospital care.