An accelerated shift in the use of remote systems in epilepsy due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Fostering Education in Epilepsy: A Canadian League Against Epilepsy Teaching Initiative

The Canadian League Against Epilepsy initiated a virtual epilepsy education program, conducting 29 webinars from March 2021 to September 2023. We report our experience, with the goal to inspire other groups to develop inclusive, equitable, and free educational spaces with a worldwide reach. Monthly sessions drew a median attendance of 118 participants, predominantly Canadian but also international, including physicians (58.9%) and trainees (22.8%). Post-webinar surveys (average 40% response rate) noted high satisfaction, a strong inclination to recommend the sessions, and an interest in clinical case-based topics. We plan to consider integrating a self-assessment section evaluating knowledge gained after each seminar.

The unforeseen future: Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on home video-EEG telemetry

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had widespread impact on health care systems globally-particularly services arranged around elective admission and attendance such as epilepsy monitoring units and home video-EEG telemetry (HVET). Here, we review the ongoing impacts of the pandemic on HVET services among several different providers who used different initial models of HVET. We discuss the features of HVET that led to success in providing continued diagnostic services to patients with epilepsy and related disorders and through retrospective audit of our services demonstrate the high diagnostic yield of HVET. We reflect on this unforeseen future and its implications for other diagnostic techniques and approaches.

Use of Telemedicine Healthcare Systems in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Disease or in Transition Stages of Life: Consensus Document of the Italian Society of Telemedicine (SIT), of the Italian Society of Preventive and Social Pediatrics (SIPPS), of the Italian Society of Pediatric Primary Care (SICuPP), of the Italian Federation of Pediatric Doctors (FIMP) and of the Syndicate of Family Pediatrician Doctors (SIMPeF)

Telemedicine is considered an excellent tool to support the daily and traditional practice of the health profession, especially when referring to the care and management of chronic patients. In a panorama in which chronic pathologies with childhood onset are constantly increasing and the improvement of treatments has allowed survival for them into adulthood, telemedicine and remote assistance are today considered effective and convenient solutions both for the chronic patient, who thus receives personalized and timely assistance, and for the doctors, who reduce the need for direct intervention, hospitalizations and consequent management costs. This Consensus document, written by the main Italian Scientific Societies involved in the use of telemedicine in pediatrics, has the objectives to propose an organizational model based on the relationships between the actors who participate in the provision of a telemedicine service aimed at minors with chronic pathologies, identifying specific project links between the areas of telemedicine in the developmental age from the first 1000 days of life to the age adult. The future scenario will have to be able to integrate digital innovation in order to offer the best care to patients and citizens. It will have to be able to provide the involvement of patients from the very beginning of the design of any care pathway, increasing where possible the proximity of the health service to citizens.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the care of rare and undiagnosed diseases patients in France: a longitudinal population-based study

BACKGROUND

Preliminary data suggest that COVID-19 pandemic has generated a switch from face-to-face to remote care for individuals with chronic diseases. However, few data are available for rare and undiagnosed diseases (RUDs). We aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activities of the French reference network for RUDs in 2020.

RESULTS

In this longitudinal retrospective study, we extracted and analyzed the data of the French national registry for RUDs collected between Jan 1, 2019 and Dec 31, 2020. We compared the annual longitudinal evolution of face-to-face and remote care activities between 2019 and 2020 focusing on adult and pediatric patients. Compared to 2019, rare diseases (RD) care activities showed a decrease in 2020 (- 12%) which occurred mostly during the first lockdown (- 45%) but did not catch up completely. This decrease was mainly in face-to-face care activities. Telehealth activities showed a 9-fold increase during the first lockdown and was able to cover for one third of the decrease in RD activities. Finally, the total number of patients receiving care was lower in 2020(- 9%) with a drastic decrease of cases with newly confirmed diagnosis (- 47%).

CONCLUSION

Although telehealth was quickly introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, RUD patient care was strongly affected in France with a decline in the number of patients treated and new patients recruited. This is likely to result in delays in patient diagnosis and care over the next few years.

The impact of COVID-19 on patients with neurological disorders and their access to healthcare in Africa: A review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has hampered the progress of neurological healthcare services for patients across Africa. Before the pandemic, access to these services was already limited due to elevated treatment costs among uninsured individuals, shortage of medicines, equipment, and qualified personnel, immense distance between residing areas and neurological facilities, and a limited understanding of neurological diseases and their presentation by both the health workers and the African population.

METHODOLOGY

The databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and the National Library of Medicine were searched for literature. All articles on neurological disorders in Africa were considered.

AIM

This review article explores the challenges of providing the best services for patients suffering from neurological disorders in Africa amid the COVID-19 pandemic and provides evidence-based recommendations.

RESULTS

As Africa's governments made more resources available to support patients affected by COVID-19, neurological care received less priority and the capacity and competency to treat patients with neurological disorders thus suffered substantially. Both short-term and long-term strategies are needed to improve the quality of neurological services after the pandemic in the region.

CONCLUSION

To strengthen Africa's neurological services capability during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, African governments must ensure appropriate healthcare resource allocation, perform neurology management training, and increase health security measures in medication supply. Long-term strategies include incorporating responsible finance and resource procurement and advancement of tele-neurology. International collaboration is essential to promote the sustainable improvement of neurological services in Africa.

Use of Health-Related Apps and Telehealth in Adults with Epilepsy in Germany: A Multicenter Cohort Study

Background: Telehealth can improve the treatment of chronic disorders, such as epilepsy. Telehealth prevalence and use increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, familiarity with and use of telehealth and health-related mobile applications (apps) by persons with epilepsy remain unknown. Methods: We investigated telehealth use, demographics, and clinical variables within the multicenter Epi2020 cross-sectional study. Between October and December 2020, adults with epilepsy completed a validated questionnaire, including individual questions regarding knowledge and use of apps and telehealth. Results: Of 476 included individuals (58.2% women; mean age 40.2 ± 15.4 years), 41.6% reported using health-related apps. Health apps were used more frequently (pedometer 32.1%, exercise app 17.6%) than medical apps (health insurance 15.1%, menstrual apps 12.2%) or apps designed for epilepsy (medication reminders 10.3%, seizure calendars 4.6%). Few used seizure detectors (i.e., apps as medical devices 1.9%) or mobile health devices (fitness bracelet 11.3%). A majority (60.9%) had heard the term telehealth, 78.6% of whom had a positive view. However, only 28.6% had a concrete idea of telehealth, and only 16.6% reported personal experience with telehealth. A majority (55%) would attend a teleconsultation follow-up, and 41.2% would in a medical emergency. Data privacy and availability were considered equally important by 50.8%, 21.8% considered data privacy more important, and 20.2% considered data availability more important. Current health-related app use was independently associated with younger age (p = 0.003), higher education (p < 0.001), and subjective COVID-19-related challenges (p = 0.002). Persistent seizure occurrence (vs. seizure freedom ≥12 months) did not affect willingness to use teleconsultations on multivariable logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: Despite positive telehealth views, few persons with epilepsy in Germany are familiar with specific apps or services. Socioeconomic factors influence telehealth use more than baseline epilepsy characteristics. Telehealth education and services should target socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals to reduce the digital care gap. German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00022024; Universal Trial Number: U1111-1252-5331).

Italian Version of the Internet Self-Efficacy Scale: Internal and External Validation

Online activities are a fundamental part of daily life in this digital era and Internet self-efficacy (ISE) became a central construct for the psychologists of virtual environments. The Internet Self-Efficacy Scale developed by Kim and Glassman (2013) is a recent, valid, and reliable 17-item test to assess the ISE. The aim of this research, composed by two studies, was to translate and validate the Italian version of the ISS. In study 1, we evaluated the factorial validity and internal consistency of the Italian version of the ISS on 3724 individuals. In study 2, we tested the ISS external validity relying on the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the Internet Addiction Scale (IAS) based on the answers of 244 participants. The findings supported the reliability and validity of the translated ISS and its use for assessing ISE on the Italian population. Implications for researchers and interventions are also discussed.

Telemedicine in epilepsy management during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Telemedicine has spread rapidly during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and shown its usefulness, particularly for patients with epilepsy, compared to face-to-face visits. We sought to evaluate the clinical features of patients with childhood onset epilepsy associated with consultations by telephone call during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated the medical records of patients with childhood onset epilepsy who visited an outpatient clinic in Saitama Children's Medical Center, Saitama, Japan, from 1 March 2020 to 30 September 2020. To find the clinical features of patients who utilized telemedicine consultation (by telephone call), we divided the patients into the telemedicine group and the face-to-face group. We then reviewed the clinical features. Telemedicine consultation was not implemented for new patients.

RESULTS

We enrolled 776 outpatients in total, and 294 patients (37.9%) utilized telemedicine consultations. The total number of visits was 2,299 and the total number of telemedicine consultations was 373 (16.2%). No clinical feature was associated with telemedicine consultations except for age at onset of epilepsy. The number of oral antiepileptic drugs prescriptions decreased in 23 of 776 (3.0%) of the patients who did not experience seizure deterioration, including status epilepticus, or who visited the emergency room.

CONCLUSION

Telemedicine consultations were successfully utilized for epilepsy treatment at our outpatient clinic, regardless of epilepsy type, etiology, seizure frequency, comorbidities, and patients' residential areas. Thus, telemedicine by telephone call may be a useful resource in the management of patients with childhood onset epilepsy during the pandemic.

Delivering epilepsy care in low-resource settings: the role of technology

INTRODUCTION

The implementation of technology in the field of epileptology has traditionally focused on its use for diagnosis and treatment and has, unsurprisingly, been capital-intensive, making it therefore mainly implementable in advanced high-income countries. Because of technological innovations over the past 20 years there has been almost a paradigm shift, particularly in access to and the potential for implementing relevant technology in lesser developed environments. Nearly 80% of people living with epilepsy live in low and middle-income countries.

AREAS COVERED

The challenge and the purpose of this paper is to discuss how technology can be implemented into lesser-resourced contexts not only cost-effectively but in a cost-saving way while also building capacity and thus sustainability.

EXPERT OPINION

The rate of technological advancement presents the risk of progressive widening of the technology and care gaps between advanced and lesser developed regions. Implementing technology is both about finding relevant appropriate technologies for the individual contexts of a diverse range of countries but also about repurposing low-tech technologies for application in epilepsy care in these areas. Finally exciting advances such as autonomous driving, digital twinning and robotic surgery will likely transform epilepsy care in several lower-resourced settings in the next 5-10 years.

TELEmedicine for EPIlepsy Care (TELE-EPIC): protocol of a randomised, open controlled non-inferiority clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

Epilepsy is a chronic condition requiring consistent follow-up aimed at seizure control, and monitoring of anti-seizure medication (ASM) levels and side effects. Telemedicine (TM) offers invaluable support to patient follow-up, guaranteeing the prompt availability of a team of experts for persons with epilepsy (PWE) widely distributed across the country. Although many health institutions have endorsed the use of TM, robust data on effectiveness, safety and costs of TM applied to epilepsy are lacking. TELEmedicine for EPIlepsy Care (TELE-EPIC) will evaluate the effectiveness of video consultation (VC) via TM compared with usual care (UC) for the monitoring of PWE (TELE-EPIC_RCT). Moreover, TELE-EPIC will apply an innovative Volumetric Absorptive Microsampling (VAMS) device for quantitation of ASM through finger prick blood sampling as an alternative to venipuncture sampling (TELE-EPIC_VAMS).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

TELE-EPIC_RCT is a multicentre, open, pragmatic two-arm randomised controlled trial prospectively including adult and paediatric outpatients with established diagnosis of epilepsy consecutively attending the Epilepsy Centres of Bologna and Rome, respectively. The primary outcome is the non-inferiority of VC on seizure control compared with UC after an 18-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes are adherence to treatment, ASM-related adverse events, quality of life, mood disorders, patient and caregiver satisfaction, safety and costs. TELE-EPIC_VAMS is a cross-validation study for blood ASM quantitation through a novel, VAMS-based device, comparing (1) VAMS versus plasma samples (reference standard method); and (2) nurse-collected versus self-collected blood by VAMS device.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has been approved by the local ethics committee (349-2019-SPER-AUSLBO). Complete information about the state of project, relevant events and results will be regularly updated on the project's webpage on ClinicalTrials.gov. The project's results and data on the potential impact of TM in epilepsy will be disseminated on social media. A closeout meeting will be convened for the communication and dissemination of the project, highlighting its main achievements and impacts.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04496310.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with epilepsy: Findings from the Brazilian arm of the COV-E study

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on people and healthcare services. The disruption to chronic illnesses, such as epilepsy, may relate to several factors ranging from direct infection to secondary effects from healthcare reorganization and social distancing measures.

OBJECTIVES

As part of the COVID-19 and Epilepsy (COV-E) global study, we ascertained the effects of COVID-19 on people with epilepsy in Brazil, based on their perspectives and those of their caregivers. We also evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on the care delivered to people with epilepsy by healthcare workers.

METHODS

We designed separate online surveys for people with epilepsy and their caregivers. A further survey for healthcare workers contained additional assessments of changes to working patterns, productivity, and concerns for those with epilepsy under their care. The Brazilian arm of COV-E initially collected data from May to November 2020 during the country's first wave. We also examined national data to identify the Brazilian states with the highest COVID-19 incidence and related mortality. Lastly, we applied this geographic grouping to our data to explore whether local disease burden played a direct role in difficulties faced by people with epilepsy.

RESULTS

Two hundred and forty-one people returned the survey, 20% were individuals with epilepsy (n = 48); 22% were caregivers (n = 53), and 58% were healthcare workers (n = 140). Just under half (43%) of people with epilepsy reported health changes during the pandemic, including worsening seizure control, with specific issues related to stress and impaired mental health. Of respondents prescribed antiseizure medication, 11% reported difficulty taking medication on time due to problems acquiring prescriptions and delayed or canceled medical appointments. Only a small proportion of respondents reported discussing significant epilepsy-related risks in the previous 12 months. Analysis of national COVID-19 data showed a higher disease burden in the states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro compared to Brazil as a whole. There were, however, no geographic differences observed in survey responses despite variability in the incidence of COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that Brazilians with epilepsy have been adversely affected by COVID-19 by factors beyond infection or mortality. Mental health issues and the importance of optimal communication are critical during these difficult times. Healthcare services need to find nuanced approaches and learn from shared international experiences to provide optimal care for people with epilepsy as the direct burden of COVID-19 improves in some countries. In contrast, others face resurgent waves of the pandemic.

Epilepsy care during the COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the care of all patients around the world. The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) COVID-19 and Telemedicine Task Forces examined, through surveys to people with epilepsy (PWE), caregivers, and health care professionals, how the pandemic has affected the well-being, care, and services for PWE. The ILAE included a link on their website whereby PWE and/or their caregivers could fill out a survey (in 11 languages) about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including access to health services and impact on mental health, including the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. An anonymous link was also provided whereby health care providers could report cases of new-onset seizures or an exacerbation of seizures in the context of COVID-19. Finally, a separate questionnaire aimed at exploring the utilization of telehealth by health care professionals since the pandemic began was available on the ILAE website and also disseminated to its members. Seventeen case reports were received; data were limited and therefore no firm conclusions could be drawn. Of 590 respondents to the well-being survey (422 PWE, 166 caregivers), 22.8% PWE and 27.5% caregivers reported an increase in seizure frequency, with difficulty in accessing medication and health care professionals reported as barriers to care. Of all respondents, 57.1% PWE and 21.5% caregivers had severe psychological distress (k score >13), which was significantly higher among PWE than caregivers (p<0.01). An increase in telemedicine use during the COVID-19 pandemic was reported by health care professionals, with 40% of consultations conducted by this method. Although 74.9% of health care providers thought that this impacted positively, barriers to care were also identified. As we move forward, there is a need to ensure ongoing support and care for PWE to prevent a parallel pandemic of unmet health care needs.

Patient-zu-Arzt-Anwendungen in der ambulanten Epilepsieversorgung

Die telemedizinische Behandlung von Patient*innen mit Epilepsie ist eine Erweiterung der bislang die ambulante Versorgungslandschaft im Wesentlichen prägenden klassischen persönlichen Arztbesuche. Unter administrativen, finanziellen und rechtlichen nun klareren Rahmenbedingungen konnten, durch die COVID-19-Pandemie katalysiert, rasch die zuvor langsameren Prozesse in der Umsetzung beschleunigt werden. Nationale und internationale Erfahrungen verweisen auf eine Noninferiorität im Vergleich zu Vor-Ort-Besuchen. Verbindliche Algorithmen der Zuordnung Vor-Ort-Besuch vs. telemedizinische Behandlung sind noch ausstehend und sollten zukünftig unter Berücksichtigung der Patientencharakteristika sowie Behandlungssituation erarbeitet werden.

What Explains Natives and Sojourners Preventive Health Behavior in a Pandemic: Role of Media and Scientific Self-Efficacy

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a severe global public health emergency. The current research investigated and compared "Natives and Sojourners" health-protective behavior in Mainland China during the pandemic. We adopted a unified view to propose our theoretical model by adapting the Health Belief Model (HBM) and Institutional Theory (IT). The data obtained through an online survey questionnaire from 435 respondents during the second and third quarters of were analyzed. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to empirically analyze the proposed model. The media self-efficacy (MSE), scientific self-efficacy (SSE), perceived health risks (PHRs), and the perceived benefits of being protected have positive and significant effects on the definition of health-protective behavioral intentions among natives and sojourners in mainland China. Media and SSE can play a strategic role in formulating public health-protective behavior. The current research recommends an effective communication with sojourners during crisis for them to be a part of the national crisis management plan (i.e., infectious disease).

Virtual epilepsy clinics - A Canadian Comprehensive Epilepsy Center experience pre-COVID and during the COVID-19 pandemic period

Objective

The objective of this study is to assess the role of prior experience with virtual care (through e-visits) in maintaining continuity in ambulatory epilepsy care during an unprecedented pandemic situation, comparing in person versus e-visit clinic uptake.

Methods

This is an observational study on virtual epilepsy care (through e-visits) over two years, during a pre-COVID period (14 months) continuing into the COVID-19 pandemic period (10 months). For a small initial section of patients seen during the study period a physician survey and a patient satisfaction survey were completed (n = 53). Outcomes of eVisits were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results

Median numbers of epilepsy clinic visits conducted during the COVID-19 period (27.5 new and 113 follow up) remained similar to the median uptake during the pre-COVID period (28 new and 116 follow up). Prior experience with e-visits for epilepsy yielded smooth transition into the pandemic period, with several other advantages. The majority of eVisits were successful despite technical difficulties and major components of history and management were still easily implemented. Results from patient surveys supported that a significant amount of time and money were saved, which was in keeping with our health-economic analysis.

Conclusion

Our study is one of the first few reports of fully integrated virtual care in a comprehensive epilepsy clinic starting much before start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of our study support the feasibility of using virtual care to deliver specialized outpatient care in a comprehensive epilepsy center.

Care pathway and prioritization of rapid testing for COVID-19 in UK hospitals: a qualitative evaluation

OBJECTIVES

The second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is now established, occurring at a time of winter pressure on acute care in the NHS. This is likely to be more challenging then the first wave for the diagnosis of COVID-19 because of the similar symptomology with other respiratory conditions highly prevalent in winter. This study sought to understand the care pathways in place in UK NHS hospitals during the first wave (March-July 2020) for identification of patients with COVID-19 and to learn lessons to inform optimal testing strategies within the COVID-19 National Diagnostic Research and Evaluation Platform (CONDOR).

DESIGN, SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

Sixteen hospital-based clinicians from 12 UK NHS Trusts covering 10 different specialties were interviewed following a semi-structured topic guide. Data were coded soon after the interviews and analysed thematically.

RESULTS

We developed a diagrammatic, high-level visualisation of the care pathway describing the main clinical decisions associated with the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected COVID-19. COVID-19 testing influenced infection control considerations more so than treatment decisions. Two main features of service provision influenced the patient management significantly: access to rapid laboratory testing and the number of single occupancy rooms. If time to return of result was greater than 24 h, patients with a presumptive diagnosis would often be cohorted based on clinical suspicion alone. Undetected COVID-19 during this time could therefore lead to an increased risk of viral transmission.

CONCLUSIONS

During the winter months, priority for provision of rapid testing at admission should be given to hospitals with limited access to laboratory services and single room availability. Access to rapid testing is essential for urgent decisions related to emergency surgery, maternity services and organ transplant. The pathway and prioritization of need will inform the economic modelling, clinical evaluations, and implementation of new clinical tests in UK.

Physician and patient satisfaction with the switch to remote outpatient encounters in epilepsy clinics during the Covid-19 pandemic

PURPOSE

Analyzing parents' and physicians' opinions regarding phone-based encounters in emergency shifts of a French pediatric epilepsy center compared to traditional face-to-face encounters during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic METHODS: Prospective monocentric study on remote encounters at Necker rare epilepsy reference center from March 20th, 2020 to April 23rd, 2020 due to lockdown measures. This study was conducted with a survey based on 5-point Likert scales (LS_-2/2) designed for both parents and physicians. We compared first versus follow-up encounters as well as physicians' and parents' opinions.

RESULTS

We had a total of 224 responses, among which 204 were completed by physicians (91%) and 173 (84,4%) by parents. Twenty five were first encounters (14,2%). Physicians pointed out the need for clinical examination (42.6%), mainly for first encounters (p=0.0004). Physicians rated the quality of communication lower (p=0.003) as their capacity to answer parents' questions (p=0.004). They were significantly less satisfied with remote encounters compared to parents (p<10^-4). We identified six urgent (2.9%) and 50 semi-urgent (24%) situations requiring programming face-to-face encounter during or shortly after the lockdown.

CONCLUSION

Remote encounters could be a helpful practice for pediatric patients with epilepsy in emergency situations such as pandemics. It allowed the identification and prioritization of emergency situations. Physicians were less positive than parents. We raised the possible use of remote encounters in association to face-to-face encounters for routine follow-up of pediatric patients with epilepsy.

Patients With Epilepsy Who Underwent Epilepsy Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic Showed Less Depressive Tendencies

Introduction: Our hypothesis in this study was that differences might exist between patients with epilepsy (PWE) who underwent epilepsy surgery before and within the period of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The purpose of this study was to compare results of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) between PWE who underwent epilepsy surgery before and during the pandemic period. Methods: Participants were PWE who underwent open cranial epilepsy surgery between February 2019 and February 2021 in our hospital. Patients who underwent surgery in the first half of this period, between February 2019 and January 2020, were defined as the pre-pandemic period group (pre-Group) and those treated in the second half, between February 2020 and February 2021, were categorized as the pandemic period group (within-Group). All patients completed the SDS before surgery, and scores were compared between groups. Results: SDS score was significantly higher in the pre-Group than in the within-Group (p = 0.037). Other factors, including age (p = 0.51), sex (p = 0.558), epilepsy duration from onset to SDS score evaluation (p = 0.190), seizure frequency (p = 0.794), number of anti-seizure medications (p = 0.787), and intelligence quotient (p = 0.871) did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusion: SDS score was higher in the pre-pandemic group than in the within-pandemic group, which may indicate that PWE with less-positive outlooks may be less likely to seek medical attention during stressful periods.

Experiences, distress and burden among neurologists in Norway during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused rapid changes in the healthcare system. Workforce reorganization, reduced standard of care and a lack of personal protection equipment (PPE) for health care workers were among the concerns raised in the first wave of the pandemic. Our aim was to explore the experiences, distress and burden among Norwegian neurologists during the first weeks of the pandemic.

METHODS

Hospital-based neurologists in Norway (n = 400) were invited to a web-based survey in April 2020. The study focused on patient management, organizational changes and personal stress during the first weeks of the pandemic lockdown. Work-home interface stress was assessed by the Cooper Job Stress Questionnaire.

RESULTS

In total, 135 neurologists participated. Seventy-three% experienced a change in their personal work situation, and 67% examined patients with suspected COVID-19 infection and neurological disease. Changed access to resources, and the perception that medical follow-up was unsatisfactory, were associated with a high degree of burden and stress. Neurologists were also worried about the potential lack of PPE and the fear of spreading SARS CoV-2 to close family members. The mean score of work-home interface stress was 2.8 with no significant differences between gender or specialist status. Reduced standard of care was reported for all neurological conditions, and in particular for non-emergency treatments.

CONCLUSION

The vast majority of neurologists in Norway experienced a change in their personal work situation during the first phase of the pandemic. The fear of becoming infected and ill was not a major contributor to burden and stress.

COVID-19 and Teleneurology in Sub-Saharan Africa: Leveraging the Current Exigency

Africa has over 1.3 billion inhabitants, with over 60% of this population residing in rural areas that have poor access to medical experts. Despite having a ridiculously huge, underserved population, very few African countries currently have any form of sustained and organized telemedicine practice, and even fewer have dedicated tele-neurology services. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has proved to be one of the most significant disruptors of vital sectors of human endeavor in modern times. In the healthcare sector, there is an increasing advocacy to deliver non-urgent care via telemedicine. This paper examined the current state of tele-neurology practice and infrastructural preparedness in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, there is over 70% mobile phone penetration in most of the countries and virtually all of them have mobile internet services of different technologies and generations. Although the needed infrastructure is increasingly available, it should be improved upon. We have proposed the access, costs, ethics, and support (ACES) model as a bespoke, holistic strategy for the successful implementation and advancement of tele-neurology in sub-Saharan Africa.

Telehealth for Children With Epilepsy Is Effective and Reduces Anxiety Independent of Healthcare Setting

Objectives: The use of telemedicine has grown exponentially as an alternative to providing care to patients with epilepsy during the pandemic. We investigated the impact of the current pandemic among children with epilepsy from two distinct pediatric epilepsy centers. We also compared perceptions among those who received telemedicine against those who did not. Methods: We developed a questionnaire and invited families followed in Freiburg, Germany, and Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to participate during the initial 9 months of the pandemic. The survey contained 32 questions, 10 of which were stratified according to telemedicine exposure. Results: One hundred twenty-six families (80 in Freiburg, 46 in Calgary) participated, and 40.3% received telemedicine care. Most children (mean age 10.4 years, SD 5.1) had chronic epilepsy but poorly controlled seizures. Negative impacts were reported by 36 and 65% of families who had to reschedule appointments for visits and diagnostics, respectively. Nearly two-thirds of families reported no change in seizure frequency, while 18.2% reported either worsening or improvement of seizures. Although most families did not note behavioral changes, 28.2% reported behavior worsening. Families who received telemedicine care had a statistically significant reduction of parental self-reported anxiety level after virtual visits compared to those who did not experience telemedicine. Families with telemedicine consultations were more likely to consider future virtual care (84 vs. 65.2% of those without), even after the pandemic. Patient data safety, easy access to specialized services, and consistency with the same healthcare provider were graded as important in both centers, while a shorter waiting time was most relevant in Calgary. Conclusion: In our cohort, some children with epilepsy experienced increased seizures and worsening behavior during the first 9 months of the current pandemic. In addition, our data suggest that telemedicine might reduce parental anxiety symptoms, and families who experienced telehealth were more positive and open to similar appointments in the future.

Experiences of telemedicine in neurological out-patient clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective

The COVID‐19 pandemic has led to rapid changes in the delivery of medical care worldwide. The main objective of this survey was to investigate the initial experiences of neurologists with the use of telemedicine for different neurological conditions during the first phase of the COVID‐19.

Methods

All hospital‐based neurologists in Norway (n = 400) were invited to a questionnaire survey by e‐mail in April 2020. The study focused on telemedicine and all questions were answered with regard to the first weeks of the pandemic lockdown in Norway.

Results

One‐hundred and thirty‐five neurologists responded. Overall, 87% reported a shift toward more telemedicine, with significantly more use of telephone than video consultations for both new referrals (54% vs. 30%, P < 0.001) and follow‐ups (99% vs. 50%, P < 0.001). Respondents deemed it much more professionally satisfactory to conduct follow‐up consultations by telephone, than to carry out consultations with new patients by telephone (85% vs. 13%, P < 0.001). Teleconsultations were better suited for headache and epilepsy patients as compared to multiple sclerosis and movement disorder patients. There was no significant difference between residents and senior consultants regarding how they experienced teleconsultations. Female neurologists found telemedicine better and more effective than male neurologists.

Interpretation

Telemedicine was rapidly implemented in Norwegian neurological departments during the first weeks of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Teleconsultations were better suited for follow‐ups than for new referrals, and better for headache and epilepsy patients as compared to multiple sclerosis and movement disorder patients.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric patients with epilepsy - The caregiver perspective

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted care systems around the world. We assessed how the COVID-19 pandemic affected children with epilepsy in Italy, where lockdown measures were applied from March 8 to May 4, 2020. We compiled an Italian-language online survey on changes to healthcare and views on telehealth. Invitations were sent to 6631 contacts of all patients diagnosed with epilepsy within the last 5 years at the BambinoGesù Children's Hospital in Rome. Of the 3321 responses received, 55.6% of patients were seizure-free for at least 1 year before the COVID-19-related lockdown, 74.4% used anti-seizure medications (ASMs), and 59.7% had intellectual disability. Only 10 patients (0.4%) became infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Seizure frequency remained stable for most patients during the lockdown period (increased in 13.2%; decreased in 20.3%), and seizure duration, use of rescue medications, and adherence to treatment were unchanged. Comorbidities were more affected (behavioral problems worsened in 35.8%; sleep disorder worsened in 17.0%). Visits were canceled/postponed for 41.0%, but 25.1% had remote consultation during the lockdown period (93.9% were satisfied). Most responders (67.2%) considered continued remote consultations advantageous. Our responses support that patients/caregivers are willing to embrace telemedicine for some scenarios.

Change in Patient Flow in the Epilepsy Care Network Due to Novel Coronavirus Infection: An Opportunity to Strengthen Local Interdisciplinary Epilepsy Care With General Physicians

Introduction: Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is spreading worldwide. We hypothesized that patient flow in epilepsy care would change as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to compare the number of patients who visited our epilepsy center before and during the first peak of the pandemic. Methods: We recorded the number of patients with epilepsy referred from general physicians (GPs) to our hospital (GP-H group), the number of patients who visited our hospital on a regular basis (R group), and the number of patients referred from our hospital to GPs (H-GP group) between July 2019 and June 2020. Results: A total of 1,839 epilepsy patients made 4,197 visits to our hospital: 979 males and 860 females (age range, 0-94 years; mean age, 37.6 years; median age, 34 years). There were 433 patients in the GP-H group (247 before the pandemic, 186 during the first peak of the pandemic; p = 0.008). In the R group, 1,406 patients made 3,764 visits (1,992 visits before the pandemic, 1,772 during the first peak of the pandemic). In the H-GP group, 135 patients were referred to GPs (47 patients before the pandemic, 88 patients during the first peak of the pandemic; p = 0.023). Conclusion: Patient flow in the epilepsy care network changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes might present an opportunity to strengthen local interdisciplinary epilepsy care.