Analysis of total costs
Costs for the National Health System (NHS) were calculated, according to the standard rates at the time of the study, in prices 80 euros for each in-person visit and 48 euros for teleconsultation assistance. The time spent with the endocrinologist was calculated as 30 minutes assigned to in-person visits and 10 minutes assigned to teleconsultations. Extra visits (in-person or teleconsultation) have been taken into account for the calculation of costs in each study arm.Direct costs for participants assessed were both time losses and transportation costs. Time losses were calculated according to 4 hours for in-person visits (30 minutes for visits plus 3 hours traveling plus 30 minutes waiting) and 30 minutes for teleconsultation. Transportation costs assuming that participants would travel with their cars were calculated based on distance traveling (kilometers (km) to hospital), an average price for petrol in Spain equal to 1.255€ per liter in 2021, and a consumer car average of 5 liter for km. These costs were estimated based on information from the international statistical portal Statista (Spain).Indirect costs for participants assessed were both abstention rate and productivity losses. Abstention rates were calculated based on total time spent by working active participants and/or companions with respect to total working hours during the follow-up period assigned by collective conveners. Productivity losses were calculated taking into account the average national salary for Spain in 2021, according to the Spanish National Institute of Statistics, for these active-working participants.Total direct and indirect costs for participants were calculated as the sum of petrol expenses and productivity losses for each participant.