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Pravallika R, Suthar R, Patil A, Malviya M, Saxena S, Saini L, Bansal A. Efficacy of Teleconsultation-Based Rehabilitation in Children with Landry-Guillain-Barré Syndrome: An Open Label Randomized Controlled Trial (Tele Rehab-LGBS Trial). Indian J Pediatr 2024; 91:455-462. [PMID: 37889455 DOI: 10.1007/s12098-023-04882-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of teleconsultation-based rehabilitation in children with Landry-Guillain-Barré syndrome (LGBS), measured with Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score and Hughes score. METHODS A pragmatic, prospective, parallel open label randomized controlled trial was conducted among a total of 50 children with LGBS. The children were randomized using computer generated block randomization into 2 groups (25 in each group): Standard of care (Group A) and teleconsultation-based rehabilitation (Group B). Primary and secondary outcomes were measured with MRC sum score and Hughes score at 12- and 24-wk follow-up. RESULTS The mean age was 6.4 ± 3.3 y; 29 (58%) were boys. Baseline MRC sum score (median, IQR), and Hughes score (median, IQR) in group A was 24 (7-31) and 5 (4-5) respectively; and in group B was 18 (9-24) and 4 (4-5) respectively. At discharge, median (IQR) MRC sum score in group A and B was 34 (28-41), and 30 (25-43) (p value = 0.31) respectively. Tele-rehabilitation was provided to group B for 24 wk with 96% compliance. At 12 wk, median MRC sum score in group A and group B were similar [48 (IQR 44-54) vs. 52 (IQR 46-60), p value = 0.08]. At 12 wk and 24 wk, median Hughes score in group A and B were similar. At 24 wk, 15 out of 23 subjects of group A and 18 out of 25 subjects of group B were ambulatory (p value = 0.61). CONCLUSIONS Teleconsultation-based rehabilitation was feasible with a high compliance rate. The functional outcomes measured with MRC sum score and Hughes score were similar in both the groups at 12 and 24 wk follow-up. Teleconsultation-based rehabilitation has similar efficacy as physical rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Renu Suthar
- Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.
| | - Amol Patil
- Department of Pharmacology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| | | | - Somya Saxena
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| | - Lokesh Saini
- Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
- Department of Pediatrics, AIIMS, Jodhpur, India
| | - Arun Bansal
- Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
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Vinadé Chagas ME, Cristina Jacovas V, de Campos Moreira T, Rodrigues Moleda Constant HM, Fernanda Rohden S, Stiehl Alves S, Santini F, Dall'Agnol S, König Klever E, Cezar Cabral F, da Silva Terres M. Are We Adequately Measuring Patient Satisfaction with Telemedicine? A Systematic Review with a Meta-Analysis. Telemed J E Health 2024. [PMID: 38436274 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2023.0530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Telemedicine has gained significant attention as an effective means of providing health care remotely, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient satisfaction is a critical aspect of implementing telemedicine, but we have no comprehensive understanding of satisfaction levels and the associated factors. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess patient satisfaction related to telemedicine consultations and to identify key factors influencing satisfaction levels. Results: The search yielded a total of 147 cross-sectional studies, of which 107 met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Overall, patient satisfaction with teleconsultations was found to be high, with satisfaction levels ranging from 38 to 100 on a scale of 0 to 100. Only a small percentage (2.72%) of the studies reported satisfaction levels below 75%. Surprisingly, most studies used nonvalidated satisfaction questionnaires, which highlight the need for the development of standardized measurement instruments. Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis provide evidence that patients generally exhibit high levels of satisfaction with telemedicine consultations. The use of nonvalidated satisfaction questionnaires in many studies, however, suggests a need for more standardized assessment tools. Factors such as the time interval between the consultation and the assessment were found to influence satisfaction levels. Understanding these factors can help health care providers improve telemedicine services and patient-provider relationships and optimize health care delivery in the context of telemedicine. Further research is warranted to develop validated satisfaction measurement instruments and explore any additional factors that influence patient satisfaction with telemedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eulália Vinadé Chagas
- Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Suelen Stiehl Alves
- Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Fernando Santini
- Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos), Business School, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Sara Dall'Agnol
- Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Emanuele König Klever
- Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Mellina da Silva Terres
- Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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Robblee J. Telemedicine in Headache Medicine: A Narrative Review. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2023; 27:371-377. [PMID: 37515743 DOI: 10.1007/s11916-023-01141-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose of the study is to review and discuss the use of telemedicine in headache medicine. RECENT FINDINGS Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telemedicine for headache was most common in Europe. In recent years, however, telemedicine has been used broadly within headache medicine, including for pediatric patients and behavioral interventions. Several randomized clinical trials have shown that telemedicine is non-inferior to face-to-face visits. Multiple studies have reported substantial benefits associated with telemedicine, including high satisfaction rates, improved access to headache specialists, reduced travel, quicker visits, greater cost-effectiveness, reduced wait times, reduced no-show rates, and the increased comfort of remaining in one's home environment. The main limitation reported is the lack of a physical examination, including fundus assessment. Telemedicine has become a vital tool in headache patient care, with the data supporting its use for patient follow-up in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Robblee
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
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4
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Lu M, Crooks RE, Pricop DF, Cox E, Anghelescu B, Hamilton M, Martino D, Bruno V, Josephson CB, Patten S, Smith EE, Roach P. Patient experiences of virtual care across specialist neuroscience and psychiatry clinics related to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Calgary, Alberta. HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY 2023; 13:523-533. [PMID: 37303978 PMCID: PMC10152010 DOI: 10.1007/s12553-023-00754-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Purpose The emergence of the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has led to public health restrictions and a shift towards virtual care and telehealth. The aim of this study was to explore barriers and facilitators of virtual care from the perspective of neurological and psychiatric patients. Methods One-on-one interviews were conducted remotely using telephone and online video teleconferencing. There was a total of 57 participants, and a thematic content analysis was conducted using NVivo software. Results The two main themes were (1) virtual health service delivery and (2) virtual physician/patient interaction, with subthemes around how virtual care improved accessibility of care for patients and improved patient-centered care; how privacy and technical issues impact patients using virtual care; and the need for relationality and connection between health care providers and patients while using virtual care. Conclusions This study showed that virtual care can increase accessibility and efficiency for patients and providers, indicating its potential for ongoing use in the delivery of clinical care. Virtual care was found to be an acceptable mode of healthcare delivery from the perspective of patients; however, there is a continued need for relationship-building between care providers and patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Lu
- Department of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, T2N 4N1 AB Canada
| | - Rachel E. Crooks
- Department of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, T2N 4N1 AB Canada
| | - Diana F. Pricop
- Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 1403 - 29 Street NW, Calgary, T2N 2T9 AB Canada
| | - Emily Cox
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Canada
| | - Beatrice Anghelescu
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Canada
| | - Mark Hamilton
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, Health Research Innovation Centre, University of Calgary, Room 1A10, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1 Canada
| | - Davide Martino
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, Health Research Innovation Centre, University of Calgary, Room 1A10, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1 Canada
| | - Veronica Bruno
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, Health Research Innovation Centre, University of Calgary, Room 1A10, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1 Canada
| | - Colin B. Josephson
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, Health Research Innovation Centre, University of Calgary, Room 1A10, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1 Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB 3D10, T2N 4Z6 Canada
| | - Scott Patten
- Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 1403 - 29 Street NW, Calgary, T2N 2T9 AB Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, Health Research Innovation Centre, University of Calgary, Room 1A10, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1 Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB 3D10, T2N 4Z6 Canada
- O’Brien Institute for Public Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3rd Floor TRW Building, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6 Canada
| | - Eric E. Smith
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, Health Research Innovation Centre, University of Calgary, Room 1A10, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1 Canada
| | - Pamela Roach
- Department of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, T2N 4N1 AB Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, Health Research Innovation Centre, University of Calgary, Room 1A10, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1 Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB 3D10, T2N 4Z6 Canada
- O’Brien Institute for Public Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3rd Floor TRW Building, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6 Canada
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Jokubaitis M, Bakutis J, Ryliškienė K. COVID-19 pandemic: Impact of quarantine on migraine and patients' care in Lithuania. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2023; 226:107615. [PMID: 36791587 PMCID: PMC9899160 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2023.107615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE there is a scarcity of data regarding the long-term (one year or more) impact of COVID-19 related quarantine on migraine burden. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the impact of quarantine on migraine course, and the implications of a shift in migraine patients' care. METHODS An anonymous online survey of 206 migraine patients in Lithuania was undertaken in April 2021. RESULTS During quarantine, 42.2% of respondents reported migraine worsening, 17.0% - migraine improvement, and 40.8% reported no change. The most common causes of improvement specified by respondents were improved sleep, increased physical activity, and better eating habits. The most common reasons for migraine worsening were decreased physical activity, use of masks and respirators, and anxiety about own health. Logistic regression revealed that the changes in migraine course were associated not only with the migraine severity and educational level, but also with lifestyle alterations such as changes in sleep, the use of personal protective equipment, and increased home workload. A quarter of respondents were unable to consult a doctor. Patients who failed this started using more analgesics (65.0% and 55.0%, p = 0.004). Almost one-third of consultations were conducted over the telephone. Treatment changes were more common during face-to-face than remote consultations (63.6% and 18.2%, p = 0.009), however, the efficacy of treatment changes did not differ significantly (61.9% and 50.0%, p = 0.741). CONCLUSION we found an overall rise in migraine burden because of lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 related quarantine. Inability to visit a doctor led to the emergence of remote consultations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Justas Bakutis
- Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
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Torres-Castaño A, Abt-Sacks A, Toledo-Chávarri A, Suarez-Herrera JC, Delgado-Rodríguez J, León-Salas B, González-Hernández Y, Carmona-Rodríguez M, Serrano-Aguilar P. Ethical, Legal, Organisational and Social Issues of Teleneurology: A Scoping Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3694. [PMID: 36834388 PMCID: PMC9962592 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide. Teleneurology (TN) allows neurology to be applied when the doctor and patient are not present in the same place, and sometimes not at the same time. In February 2021, the Spanish Ministry of Health requested a health technology assessment report on the implementation of TN as a complement to face-to-face neurological care. METHODS A scoping review was conducted to answer the question on the ethical, legal, social, organisational, patient (ELSI) and environmental impact of TN. The assessment of these aspects was carried out by adapting the EUnetHTA Core Model 3.0 framework, the criteria established by the Spanish Network of Health Technology Assessment Agencies and the analysis criteria of the European Validate (VALues In Doing Assessments of healthcare TEchnologies) project. Key stakeholders were invited to discuss their concerns about TN in an online meeting. Subsequently, the following electronic databases were consulted from 2016 to 10 June 2021: MEDLINE and EMBASE. RESULTS 79 studies met the inclusion criteria. This scoping review includes 37 studies related to acceptability and equity, 15 studies developed during COVID and 1 study on environmental aspects. Overall, the reported results reaffirm the necessary complementarity of TN with the usual face-to-face care. CONCLUSIONS This need for complementarity relates to factors such as acceptability, feasibility, risk of dehumanisation and aspects related to privacy and the confidentiality of sensitive data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alezandra Torres-Castaño
- Canary Islands Health Research Institute Foundation (FIISC), 38320 Tenerife, Spain
- Evaluation Unit of the Canary Islands Health Service (SESCS), 38109 Tenerife, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- The Spanish Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment and Services of the National Health System (RedETS), 28071 Madrid, Spain
| | - Analía Abt-Sacks
- Canary Islands Health Research Institute Foundation (FIISC), 38320 Tenerife, Spain
- Evaluation Unit of the Canary Islands Health Service (SESCS), 38109 Tenerife, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- The Spanish Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment and Services of the National Health System (RedETS), 28071 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Toledo-Chávarri
- Canary Islands Health Research Institute Foundation (FIISC), 38320 Tenerife, Spain
- Evaluation Unit of the Canary Islands Health Service (SESCS), 38109 Tenerife, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- The Spanish Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment and Services of the National Health System (RedETS), 28071 Madrid, Spain
| | - José Carlos Suarez-Herrera
- Evaluation Unit of the Canary Islands Health Service (SESCS), 38109 Tenerife, Spain
- UNITWIN/UNESCO Chair, Research, Planning and Development of Local Health Systems, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35001 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Janet Delgado-Rodríguez
- Canary Islands Health Research Institute Foundation (FIISC), 38320 Tenerife, Spain
- The Spanish Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment and Services of the National Health System (RedETS), 28071 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Philosophy I, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Beatriz León-Salas
- Canary Islands Health Research Institute Foundation (FIISC), 38320 Tenerife, Spain
- Evaluation Unit of the Canary Islands Health Service (SESCS), 38109 Tenerife, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- The Spanish Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment and Services of the National Health System (RedETS), 28071 Madrid, Spain
| | - Yadira González-Hernández
- Canary Islands Health Research Institute Foundation (FIISC), 38320 Tenerife, Spain
- Evaluation Unit of the Canary Islands Health Service (SESCS), 38109 Tenerife, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- The Spanish Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment and Services of the National Health System (RedETS), 28071 Madrid, Spain
| | - Montserrat Carmona-Rodríguez
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- The Spanish Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment and Services of the National Health System (RedETS), 28071 Madrid, Spain
- Health Technology Assessment Agency, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Serrano-Aguilar
- Canary Islands Health Research Institute Foundation (FIISC), 38320 Tenerife, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, University of La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Spain
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Patient satisfaction with televisit in chronic neurologic disorders during Covid-19 pandemic. Acta Neurol Belg 2023:10.1007/s13760-023-02173-6. [PMID: 36635442 PMCID: PMC9838386 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-023-02173-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Covid-19 pandemic has boosted telemedicine in medical clinical practice. Experience in the management of chronic neurological disorders is limited as well as patient opinion. During Covid-19 pandemic, we evaluated patients' satisfaction and opinion about televisits in a large group of patients with chronic neurological disorders. METHODS All patients with chronic neurological disorders who had a virtual visit during the first phase of pandemic were invited to fill an online anonymous questionnaire about their global satisfaction and satisfaction regarding continuity of care, possibility to stay at home, doctor-patient relationship, the future of teleconsultation after pandemic and the possibility of understanding medical information and instructions. RESULTS We received 123 questionnaires among 232 e-mail (response rate 53%). Almost all (120 out of 121 patients, 99%) were satisfied with the overall experience with video-consultation. Comprehension of medical information was the same for 113 out of 122 patients (93%) and also the doctor-patient relationship was the same for 107 out of 122 respondents (88%) or better for 10 (8%). Ninety-three percent of patients (112 out of 120) were keen to integrate televisits with the traditional modality and only 11 out of 121 patients (9%) judged televisits as an option to discard. As a whole, 114 out of 122 respondents (93%) would suggest this modality to other patients. CONCLUSIONS Our large cohort of patients with chronic neurologic disorders rated experience with televisits satisfactory. Comprehension of medical information and doctor-patient interaction was considered good. Eventually, patients are keen to integrate this modality with traditional follow-up visits.
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Hmoud M, Salamatullah HK, Faidah DE, Makkawi S. Experience and perception of utilizing virtual clinic in neurological assessment in Saudi Arabia. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1111254. [PMID: 36873439 PMCID: PMC9983690 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1111254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The World Health Organization defined electronic health as "the unified usage of information technology and electronic communications in the health sector." In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, outpatient encounters were largely shifted to virtual clinics due to the crisis caused by COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the neurology consultants', specialists', and residents' experience and perception of utilizing virtual services for neurological assessment in Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted by sending an anonymous online survey to neurologists and neurology residents in Saudi Arabia. The survey was developed by the authors and contained three main sections: demographics, subspecialty and years of experience after residency, and virtual clinics during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Result A total of 108 neurology-practicing physicians in Saudi Arabia responded to the survey. Overall, 75% experienced virtual clinics, and 61% of them used phones for consultation. In neurology clinical practice, there was a significant difference (P < 0.001) regarding the teleconsultations for follow-up patients compared to the newly referred patients, being more suitable for the follow-up cases. Additionally, most neurology practicing physicians showed more confidence in performing history-taking tasks virtually (82.4%) than in physical examination. However, it was found that consultants were significantly (P < 0.03) more confident to virtually perform the cranial nerve, motor, coordination, and extrapyramidal assessments than the neurology residents. Physicians deemed it more suitable to conduct teleconsultations for patients with headaches and epilepsy than for those with neuromuscular and demyelinating diseases/multiple sclerosis. Furthermore, they agreed that patients' experiences (55.6%) and physicians' acceptance (55.6%) were the two main limitations to implementing virtual clinics. Discussion This study revealed that neurologists were more confident in performing history-taking in virtual clinics than in physical exams. On the contrary, consultants were more confident in handling the physical examination virtually than the neurology residents. Moreover, the most accepted clinics to be handled electronically were the headache and epilepsy clinics in comparison to the other subspecialties, being mainly diagnosed using history. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to observe the level of confidence in performing different duties in neurology virtual clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Hmoud
- Department of Medicine, Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hassan K Salamatullah
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dania E Faidah
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Seraj Makkawi
- Department of Medicine, Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Zhang S, Wang S, Dong Y, Chen X, Hu M, Kou S, Zhang C, Wu S, Tian Y. Current care practices for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in China. Brain Dev 2022; 44:623-629. [PMID: 35691779 PMCID: PMC9181563 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has presented challenges in the care of patients with chronic diseases. We identified the challenges faced by Chinese patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) during the pandemic. METHODS An online cross-sectional survey was conducted between March 27 and June 30, 2021. RESULTS Of the 2105 valid questionnaire responses, 2,056 patients were from non-lockdown areas. In these areas, 42.8% reduced outside daily activities, 49.4% reduced rehabilitation service use, 39.7% postponed regular follow-ups, and 40.8% reported accelerated motor function decline. These figures generally increased for patients from lockdown areas-67.3% reduced outside daily activities, 44.9% reduced rehabilitation service use, 79.6% postponed regular follow-ups, and 55.1% reported accelerated motor function decline. Ambulation loss was most commonly reported in September and March before 2020; however, this trend was absent in 2020. Regarding the informed prices of disease-modifying drugs in Europe and the United States, 86.7% could afford a maximum of one-twentieth of the prices, 8.0% could afford one-tenth of the prices, and only 0.6% of the patients could afford the full prices. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of standardized care for DMD in China is consistent with global practices, and the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the care of patients with chronic diseases worldwide, particularly in lockdown areas. Telemedicine is an effective model for providing healthcare to such patients. Healthcare workers should assist patients and establish more robust chronic disease management systems. Collaboration between governmental and non-governmental entities could address the cost of disease-modifying drugs in China and other developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Zhang
- Research Center for Birth Defects Prevention and Control Technology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fu-Xing Road, Beijing 100853, China,Department of Neurology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Shaoxia Wang
- Department of Neurology, Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Yuru Dong
- Department of Radiology, Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Xinyu Chen
- Department of Neurology, Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Miao Hu
- Department of Neurology, Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Sen Kou
- Department of Neurology, Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Chunyan Zhang
- Research Center for Birth Defects Prevention and Control Technology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fu-Xing Road, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Shiwen Wu
- Department of Neurology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Yaping Tian
- Research Center for Birth Defects Prevention and Control Technology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fu-Xing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
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Irvine K, Alarcon M, Dyck H, Martin B, Carr T, Groot G. Virtual surgical consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic: a patient-oriented, cross-sectional study using telephone interviews. CMAJ Open 2022; 10:E1008-E1016. [PMID: 36446425 PMCID: PMC9718540 DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20210159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health care delivery shifted rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereby virtual consultations replaced many face-to-face interactions. We sought to gather patient perspectives on their experiences with virtual surgical consultation, the advantages and disadvantages of this delivery method and their overall satisfaction with virtual appointments. METHODS We conducted a patient-oriented, cross-sectional study. Adult patients (age > 18 yr) who had a virtual consultation with a participating general surgeon in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, from April to May 2020 were eligible. We conducted telephone interviews using open- and close-ended questions. We used thematic analysis to determine themes from the qualitative data. As research team members, 2 patient partners were involved in identifying priorities, developing the research question, designing research methods, analyzing data and disseminating findings. We analyzed and presented quantitative data descriptively. RESULTS We interviewed 45 participants from 7 general surgery practices; the average age was 62 years. Most participants lived outside Saskatoon and had virtual follow-up appointments. The 3 themes related to advantages of virtual consultations were convenience, cost savings and decreased exposure to pathogens. The 4 themes related to their disadvantages were that they were not as personal, the surgeon was not able to perform a physical examination, and there were issues with scheduling and issues with technology. Most participants were satisfied with the care they received (n = 41) and would be willing to use virtual consultation in the future (n = 31). INTERPRETATION We found that virtual consultations are an effective and efficient way to deliver surgical care but are not appropriate for every situation and cannot completely replace face-to-face interactions. Our study identified the advantages and disadvantages of virtual surgical consultation to help better guide the delivery of virtual care in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Irvine
- Department of Surgery (Irvine), University of Saskatchewan; Clinical Research Support Unit (Alarcon), University of Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (Dyck, Martin); Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Carr, Groot), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.
| | - Marissa Alarcon
- Department of Surgery (Irvine), University of Saskatchewan; Clinical Research Support Unit (Alarcon), University of Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (Dyck, Martin); Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Carr, Groot), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask
| | - Heather Dyck
- Department of Surgery (Irvine), University of Saskatchewan; Clinical Research Support Unit (Alarcon), University of Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (Dyck, Martin); Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Carr, Groot), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask
| | - Barbara Martin
- Department of Surgery (Irvine), University of Saskatchewan; Clinical Research Support Unit (Alarcon), University of Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (Dyck, Martin); Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Carr, Groot), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask
| | - Tracey Carr
- Department of Surgery (Irvine), University of Saskatchewan; Clinical Research Support Unit (Alarcon), University of Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (Dyck, Martin); Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Carr, Groot), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask
| | - Gary Groot
- Department of Surgery (Irvine), University of Saskatchewan; Clinical Research Support Unit (Alarcon), University of Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (Dyck, Martin); Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Carr, Groot), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask
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Lleixa Sardañons M, Artola Ortiz M, Becerril Ríos N, Cordero Martín G, Hernando Andrés A, Lozano Ladero AM, Sabroso Mellado JR, Sánchez Franco CM, del Río Muñoz B. Nursing care of patients with multiple sclerosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. REVISTA CIENTÍFICA DE LA SOCIEDAD DE ENFERMERÍA NEUROLÓGICA (ENGLISH ED.) 2022. [PMCID: PMC9446056 DOI: 10.1016/j.sedeng.2022.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Development Conclusions
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Ganjali R, Jajroudi M, Kheirdoust A, Darroudi A, Alnattah A. Telemedicine solutions for clinical care delivery during COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review. Front Public Health 2022; 10:937207. [PMID: 35937265 PMCID: PMC9354887 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.937207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The unexpected emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has changed mindsets about the healthcare system and medical practice in many fields, forcing physicians to reconsider their approaches to healthcare provision. It is necessary to add new, unique, and efficient solutions to traditional methods to overcome this critical challenge. In this regard, telemedicine offers a solution to this problem. Remote medical activities could diminish unnecessary visits and provide prompt medical services in a timely manner. Objective This scoping review aimed to provide a map of the existing evidence on the use of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on delineation functions and technologies, analyzing settings, and identifying related outcomes. Methods This review was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched based on specific eligibility criteria. The English publications included in this study focused on telemedicine systems implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide clinical care services. Two independent reviewers screened the articles based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The relevant features of telemedicine systems were summarized and presented into the following four domains and their subcategories, including functionality, technology, context, and outcomes. Results Out of a total of 1,602 retrieved papers, 66 studies met the inclusion criteria. The most common function implemented was counseling, and telemedicine was used for diagnosis in seven studies. In addition, in 12 studies, tele-monitoring of patients was performed by phone, designed platforms, social media, Bluetooth, and video calls. Telemedicine systems were predominantly implemented synchronously (50 studies). Moreover, 10 studies used both synchronous and asynchronous technologies. Although most studies were performed in outpatient clinics or centers, three studies implemented a system for hospitalized patients, and four studies applied telemedicine for emergency care. Telemedicine was effective in improving 87.5% of health resource utilization outcomes, 85% of patient outcomes, and 100% of provider outcomes. Conclusion The benefits of using telemedicine in medical care delivery systems in pandemic conditions have been well–documented, especially for outpatient care. It could potentially improve patient, provider, and healthcare outcomes. This review suggests that telemedicine could support outpatient and emergency care in pandemic situations. However, further studies using interventional methods are required to increase the generalizability of the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raheleh Ganjali
- Clinical Research Development Unit, Emam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- *Correspondence: Raheleh Ganjali
| | - Mahdie Jajroudi
- Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Azam Kheirdoust
- Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ali Darroudi
- Department of Health Information Technology, Faculty of Paramedicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ashraf Alnattah
- Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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13
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Lleixa Sardañons M, Artola Ortiz M, Becerril Ríos N, Cordero Martín G, Hernando Andrés A, Lozano Ladero AM, Sabroso Mellado JR, Sánchez Franco CM, del Río Muñoz B. Atención del personal de enfermería a pacientes con esclerosis múltiple durante la pandemia de la COVID-19. REVISTA CIENTÍFICA DE LA SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE ENFERMERÍA NEUROLÓGICA 2022. [PMCID: PMC9212886 DOI: 10.1016/j.sedene.2022.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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14
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Meng G, McAiney C, Perlman CM, McKillop I, Tisseverasinghe T, Chen HH. Service process factors affecting patients' and clinicians' experiences on rapid teleconsultation implementation in out-patient neurology services during COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:534. [PMID: 35459134 PMCID: PMC9026006 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-07908-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The adoption of teleconsultation for outpatient neurology services was limited until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic which forced many outpatient neurology services to rapidly switch to virtual models. However, it remains unclear how this change has impacted patients’ and clinicians’ perceptions of service quality. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify process factors that influence patients’ and clinicians’ experiences of outpatient teleconsultation services during COVID-19. Methods Arksey and O’Malley scoping review framework was used to search PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycInfo for original peer-reviewed research studies that examined the experiences of synchronous teleconsultation between a clinician and patient in a home-setting since the World Health Organization announced the COVID-19 global pandemic. The service quality model SERVQUAL was used to conduct a deductive thematic analysis to identify the key factors that impacted the patients’ and clinicians’ perception of teleconsultation services. Results A total of nineteen studies published between January 1, 2020, and April 17, 2021, were identified. The most common service process factors affecting the patients’ and clinicians’ experiences of teleconsultation were technical issues, addressing logistical needs, communication, ability to perform clinical activities, appropriate triage, and administrative support. Conclusions Our findings identified six key service process factors affecting the patients’ and clinicians’ teleconsultation experiences in outpatient neurology services. The need for improvement of triage process and standardizing administrative virtual care pathway are identified as important steps to improve patients and clinicians’ teleconsultation experiences compared to pre-COVID era. More research is needed to assess outpatient neurology teleconsultation service quality from patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-022-07908-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangxia Meng
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Carrie McAiney
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Christopher M Perlman
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Ian McKillop
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | | | - Helen H Chen
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
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15
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Forde H, Choudhary P, Lumb A, Wilmot E, Hussain S. Current provision and HCP experiences of remote care delivery and diabetes technology training for people with type 1 diabetes in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic. Diabet Med 2022; 39:e14755. [PMID: 34862815 DOI: 10.1111/dme.14755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the rapid implementation of remote care delivery in type 1 diabetes. We studied current modes of care delivery, healthcare professional experiences and impact on insulin pump training in type 1 diabetes care in the United Kingdom (UK). METHODS The UK Diabetes Technology Network designed a 48-question survey aimed at healthcare professionals providing care in type 1 diabetes. RESULTS One hundred and forty-three healthcare professionals (48% diabetes physicians, 52% diabetes educators and 88% working in adult services) from approximately 75 UK centres (52% university hospitals, 46% general and community hospitals), responded to the survey. Telephone consultations were the main modality of care delivery. There was a higher reported time taken for video consultations versus telephone (p < 0.001). Common barriers to remote consultations were patient familiarity with technology (72%) and access to patient device data (67%). We assessed the impact on insulin pump training. A reduction in total new pump starts (73%) and renewals (61%) was highlighted. Common barriers included patient digital literacy (61%), limited healthcare professional experience (46%) and time required per patient (44%). When grouped according to size of insulin pump service, pump starts and renewals in larger services were less impacted by the pandemic compared to smaller services. CONCLUSION This survey highlights UK healthcare professional experiences of remote care delivery. While supportive of virtual care models, a number of factors highlighted, especially patient digital literacy, need to be addressed to improve virtual care delivery and device training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Forde
- Leicester Diabetes Research Centre, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK
| | - Pratik Choudhary
- Leicester Diabetes Research Centre, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK
| | - Alistair Lumb
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolism, Oxford, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Emma Wilmot
- Department of Diabetes, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS FT, Derby, UK
- School of Medicine, Nottingham University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Sufyan Hussain
- Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
- Department of Diabetes, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Obesity, King's Health Partners, London, UK
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Spurr L, Tan HL, Wakeman R, Chatwin M, Hughes Z, Simonds A. Psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and shielding in adults and children with early-onset neuromuscular and neurological disorders and their families: a mixed-methods study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e055430. [PMID: 35354630 PMCID: PMC8968110 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To describe and evaluate the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and measures to reduce the risk of transmission on patients with early-onset neuromuscular and neurological disorders (NMDs) and their families. DESIGN A mixed-methods study in which data were collected between 17 September 2020 and 31 December 2020 using a semi-structured telephone questionnaire developed specifically to meet research aims, and were analysed using quantitative methods and qualitative inductive thematic analysis. PARTICIPANTS Forty questionnaires were completed by patients with NMDs (eg, muscular dystrophies, spinal muscular atrophy) or their parent. 70% (n=28) of patients were male, aged 2-48 years. 90% (n=36) were wheelchair users; 72.5% (n=29) required long-term non-invasive or tracheostomy ventilation. RESULTS Strict adherence to risk mitigation strategies, for example, shielding, were reported at the start of the pandemic. Over half continued some or all measures after official limitations were relaxed. 67.5% (n=27) reported changes to personal care assistance arrangements including temporary cessation of outside carers. Three themes were identified: (1) Concern regarding the health impact of COVID-19; (2) Perceptions of strategies to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission; (3) Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The level and pervasiveness of frequently reported negative psychological effects, for example, anxiety and fear fluctuated, and were related to the perceived risk of COVID-19, concern about attending hospital, and perceived lack of access to intensive care management if severe COVID-19 infection occurred. Support, particularly from family and healthcare services, were considered to have positive psychosocial effects. CONCLUSIONS Measures to reduce transmission of COVID-19 have greatly affected patients with NMDs and their families. For most, negative psychosocial impacts have and will continue to improve, but this may depend on the incidence of further pandemic waves. Consistent, up-to-date and accessible information on clinical outcomes and risk mitigation must be provided to support patients' physical and mental well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Spurr
- Academic and Clinical Department of Sleep and Ventilation, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK
| | - Hui-Leng Tan
- Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK
| | - Ruth Wakeman
- Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK
| | - Michelle Chatwin
- Academic and Clinical Department of Sleep and Ventilation, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK
| | | | - Anita Simonds
- Academic and Clinical Department of Sleep and Ventilation, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK
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Ghadiri F, Naser Moghadasi A, Sahraian MA. Telemedicine as a strategic intervention for cognitive rehabilitation in MS patients during COVID-19. Acta Neurol Belg 2022; 122:23-29. [PMID: 35094365 PMCID: PMC8801040 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-022-01875-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has taken the lives of nearly 5.2 million up to now. With no definite treatment and considering close contact as the primary mode of transmission, telemedicine has emerged as an essential medical care platform. Virtual medical communications have offered clinicians the opportunity to visit and follow up on patients more efficiently during the lockdown. Not only has telemedicine improved multiple sclerosis (MS) patients’ health and quality of life during the pandemic, but it could also be used as a cost-effective platform for physical and cognitive MS rehabilitation programs. Cognitive impairment is a common problem among MS patients even at the initial phases of the disease. Rehabilitation training programs such as RehaCom, BrainHQ, Speed of Processing Training (PST), and COGNI-TRAcK have made great strides in improving a wide range of cognitive functions that MS patients are challenged with. Regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the cognitive aspects of MS patients, efforts to implement rehabilitation training applications have been increased. Web-based mobile applications, virtual visits, and telephone follow-ups are examples of such efforts. Having said that, limitations such as privacy, socioeconomic disparities, e-health literacy, study settings, and challenges of neurologic examinationss have been raised. Since most MS patients are young, all the beneficiaries are encouraged to embrace the research in the field to pave the road for more feasible and efficient ways of cognitive enhancement in MS patients.
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Schutz S, Walthall H, Snowball J, Vagner R, Fernandez N, Bartram E, Merriman C. Patient and clinician experiences of remote consultation during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: A service evaluation. Digit Health 2022; 8:20552076221115022. [PMID: 35959197 PMCID: PMC9358347 DOI: 10.1177/20552076221115022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, clinicians were instructed to move all but
emergency consultations to remote means to reduce the spread of the virus.
The aim of this study was to evaluate patients’ and clinicians’ experiences
of moving to remote means of consultation with their health care
professionals during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Methods The study design was a qualitative service evaluation. Twenty-six clinicians
and forty-eight patients who met the inclusion criteria consented to be
interviewed. Clinician participants were from either medical, nursing, or
allied health professional backgrounds. Patients were recruited from
diabetes, acute care, and haematology and cancer areas. Data analysis was
conducted using a thematic analysis framework. Results Following coding and thematic analysis of the data collected from clinicians,
five themes were identified: personal and professional well-being; providing
a safe and high-quality experience; adapting to a new way of working; making
remote consultations fit for purpose and an awareness of altered dynamics
during consultation. Patient data was coded into 3 themes: remote
consultation adds value; remote consultation brings challenges and concerns
about remote consultation. Conclusions Clinician and patient experiences reported here are reflected in the
literature. The study indicates that remote consultation is not suitable for
all patients and in all contexts. Whilst maintaining the benefits to
patients, remote means of consultation needs organisational support and
preparation. A way forward that maintains the benefits whilst addressing
concerns seems urgent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sue Schutz
- Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Helen Walthall
- Nursing and Midwifery Research and Innovation, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Joanna Snowball
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Raluca Vagner
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Nicola Fernandez
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Emilia Bartram
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Clair Merriman
- Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
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Vignoud G, Desjardins C, Salardaine Q, Mongin M, Garcin B, Venance L, Degos B. Video-Based Automated Assessment of Movement Parameters Consistent with MDS-UPDRS III in Parkinson's Disease. JOURNAL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2022; 12:2211-2222. [PMID: 35964204 PMCID: PMC9661322 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-223445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), including rigidity and resting tremor, bradykinesia is a mandatory feature to define the parkinsonian syndrome. MDS-UPDRS III is the worldwide reference scale to evaluate the parkinsonian motor impairment, especially bradykinesia. However, MDS-UPDRS III is an agent-based score making reproducible measurements and follow-up challenging. OBJECTIVE Using a deep learning approach, we developed a tool to compute an objective score of bradykinesia based on the guidelines of the gold-standard MDS-UPDRS III. METHODS We adapted and applied two deep learning algorithms to detect a two-dimensional (2D) skeleton of the hand composed of 21 predefined points, and transposed it into a three-dimensional (3D) skeleton for a large database of videos of parkinsonian patients performing MDS-UPDRS III protocols acquired in the Movement Disorder unit of Avicenne University Hospital. RESULTS We developed a 2D and 3D automated analysis tool to study the evolution of several key parameters during the protocol repetitions of the MDS-UPDRS III. Scores from 2D automated analysis showed a significant correlation with gold-standard ratings of MDS-UPDRS III, measured with coefficients of determination for the tapping (0.609) and hand movements (0.701) protocols using decision tree algorithms. The individual correlations of the different parameters measured with MDS-UPDRS III scores carry meaningful information and are consistent with MDS-UPDRS III guidelines. CONCLUSION We developed a deep learning-based tool to precisely analyze movement parameters allowing to reliably score bradykinesia for parkinsonian patients in a MDS-UPDRS manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaëtan Vignoud
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Collège de France, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
- INRIA Paris, MAMBA (Modelling and Analysis in Medical and Biological Applications), Paris, France
| | - Clément Desjardins
- APHP, Hôpital Avicenne, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris-Seine Saint Denis (HUPSSD), Department of Neurology, Sorbonne Paris Nord, NS-PARK/FCRIN network, Bobigny, France
| | - Quentin Salardaine
- APHP, Hôpital Avicenne, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris-Seine Saint Denis (HUPSSD), Department of Neurology, Sorbonne Paris Nord, NS-PARK/FCRIN network, Bobigny, France
| | - Marie Mongin
- APHP, Hôpital Avicenne, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris-Seine Saint Denis (HUPSSD), Department of Neurology, Sorbonne Paris Nord, NS-PARK/FCRIN network, Bobigny, France
| | - Béatrice Garcin
- APHP, Hôpital Avicenne, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris-Seine Saint Denis (HUPSSD), Department of Neurology, Sorbonne Paris Nord, NS-PARK/FCRIN network, Bobigny, France
| | - Laurent Venance
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Collège de France, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Bertrand Degos
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Collège de France, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
- APHP, Hôpital Avicenne, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris-Seine Saint Denis (HUPSSD), Department of Neurology, Sorbonne Paris Nord, NS-PARK/FCRIN network, Bobigny, France
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Roth EG, Minden SL, Maloni HW, Miles ZJ, Wallin MT. A Qualitative, Multiperspective Inquiry of Multiple Sclerosis Telemedicine in the United States. Int J MS Care 2022; 24:275-281. [PMID: 36545645 PMCID: PMC9749833 DOI: 10.7224/1537-2073.2021-117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telemedicine has expanded access to high-quality, appropriate, and affordable health care for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study explored how the expansion of MS telemedicine is perceived and experienced by people with MS, health care providers (HCPs), and payers and policy experts (PYs). METHODS Forty-five semistructured interviews with 20 individuals with MS, 15 HCPs, and 10 PYs were conducted between September 2020 and January 2021. The interviews were recorded on a televideo platform, transcribed, and analyzed for themes using qualitative data software. RESULTS Interviews revealed the following 4 themes. Technology: Telemedicine increases access and convenience. Technical challenges were the most cited downside to telemedicine. Clinical encounters: Confidence in MS care via telemedicine varies. Virtual "house calls" have clinical benefits. Financing and infrastructure: Reimbursement parity is critical to utilization and expansion of telemedicine. Stakeholders are hopeful and fearful as infrastructure and business models begin to shift. Shifting expectations: The familiar structure of the office visit is currently absent in telemedicine. Telemedicine visits need more intentionality from both providers and patients. CONCLUSIONS Telemedicine is an efficient, convenient way to deliver and receive many aspects of MS care. To expand telemedicine care, many HCPs need more training and experience, people with MS need guidance to optimize their care, and PYs in the United States need to pass legislation and adjust business models to incorporate benefits and reimbursement for telemedicine health in insurance plans. The future is promising for the ongoing use of telemedicine to improve MS care, and stakeholders should work to preserve and expand the policy changes made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin G. Roth
- From The Department of Sociology, Anthropology, & Public Health, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), Baltimore, MD, USA (EGR)
| | | | - Heidi W. Maloni
- Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence, Washington, DC, USA (HWM, MTW)
| | | | - Mitchell T. Wallin
- Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence, Washington, DC, USA (HWM, MTW),George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA (MTW)
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Tao D, Zhong T, Wang J. The Influence of Telemedicine and Compassionate Care on the Quality of Life and Mental Health of Patients with Epilepsy in Northeastern China During the COVID-19 Crisis. J Multidiscip Healthc 2021; 14:3359-3368. [PMID: 34887665 PMCID: PMC8653707 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s335240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To understand the influence of telemedicine and compassionate care on the quality of life and mental health of patients with epilepsy (PWE) in northeastern China during the COVID-19 crisis. Patients and Methods Physicians in the epilepsy department conducted a questionnaire survey on PWE on February 2020. The Quality Of Life In Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used. The intervention (IG) group received compassionate care and follow-up through telemedicine equipment every week, while the nonintervention (NIG) group did not receive. The questionnaire survey was conducted again three month later. Results Ninety patients were recruited: mean age 39.91±15.57 in the IG, 37.39±11.69 in the NIG, 46 (51.1%) were men. Twenty patients had difficulty in purchasing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Seven patients reported seizure in the last 1 month. Only 1 patient (2.2%) consulted the emergency department. Up to 84 patients’ lives were affected. Fifteen (33.3%) of the IG and 20 (44.4%) of the NIG patients stated that their family income had decreased, and among them, 13 (28.9%) in the IG group and 10 (22.2%) in the NIG group stated that they were unemployed. 3 months later, the interaction between groups and time of QOLIE-31 was significant, F (1, 88) = 16.996, p<0.001; the interaction between group and time on the PHQ-9 was significant, F (1, 88)= 14.992, p<0.001; the interaction between group and time on the QAD-7 was significant, F (1, 88)= 6.026, p<0.001. Conclusion Our study found that during the COVID-19 outbreak, when patients were in a lockdown, telemedicine and compassionate care were effective and successful in managing PWE in northeastern China. It is a valid method to decrease anxiety and depression and improve the patients’ quality of life. Further research is necessary about compassionate care methods for PWE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deshuang Tao
- Epilepsy Department of Jiamusi Central Hospital, Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province, 154002, People's Republic of China.,Jiamusi University, Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province, 154007, People's Republic of China
| | - Tangwu Zhong
- Jiamusi University, Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province, 154007, People's Republic of China
| | - Juli Wang
- Epilepsy Department of Jiamusi Central Hospital, Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province, 154002, People's Republic of China
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22
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Anjum MR, Chalmers J, Hamid R, Rajoriya N. COVID-19: Effect on gastroenterology and hepatology service provision and training: Lessons learnt and planning for the future. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:7625-7648. [PMID: 34908803 PMCID: PMC8641058 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i44.7625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In late 2019, reports arose of a new respiratory disease in China, identified as a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The World Health Organisation named the disease caused by the virus 'coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)'. It was declared a pandemic in early 2020, after the disease rapidly spread across the world. COVID-19 has not only resulted in substantial morbidity and mortality but also significantly impacted healthcare service provision and training across all medical specialties with gastroenterology and Hepatology services being no exception. Internationally, most, if not all 'non-urgent' services have been placed on hold during surges of infections. As a result there have been delayed diagnoses, procedures, and surgeries which will undoubtedly result in increased morbidity and mortality. Outpatient services have been converted to remote consultations where possible in many countries. Trainees have been redeployed to help care for COVID-19 patients in other settings, resulting in disruption to their training - particularly endoscopy and outpatient clinics. This has led to significant anxiety amongst trainees, and risks prolongation of training. It is of the utmost importance to develop strategies that continue to support COVID-19-related service provision, whilst also supporting existing and future gastroenterology and Hepatology services and training. Changes to healthcare provision during the pandemic have generated new and improved frameworks of service and training delivery, which can be adopted in the post-COVID-19 world, leading to enhanced patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Raheel Anjum
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton WV100QP, United Kingdom
| | - Jodie Chalmers
- Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2WB, United Kingdom
| | - Rizwana Hamid
- Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Alexandria Hospital, Paisley PA2 9PJ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Rajoriya
- The Liver Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2WB, United Kingdom
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
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Caponnetto V, Ornello R, De Matteis E, Papavero SC, Fracasso A, Di Vito G, Lancia L, Ferrara FM, Sacco S. The COVID-19 Pandemic as an Opportunity to Improve Health Care Through a Nurse-Coordinated Multidisciplinary Model in a Headache Specialist Center: The Implementation of a Telemedicine Protocol. Telemed J E Health 2021; 28:1016-1022. [PMID: 34756108 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2021.0414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Due to coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, Italian outpatient clinics were suspended in March-April 2020 and subsequently slowed down. Telemedicine was shown to be useful in headache clinics, despite absence of a detailed protocol for its development. Objective: To describe the implementation of a structured telemedicine protocol during COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Since May 2020, we performed a quality improvement study in a Headache Specialist Center in central Italy. We involved patients who had in-person follow-up visits scheduled during suspension and initial reopening of clinics. Patients had two appointments with a nurse specialized in headache care and a headache physician, respectively, using Microsoft Teams®. The service is still active. We collected sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients, technical details of telemedicine visits, patient feedback, medical judgment about complexity of clinical decisions, and need for in-person re-evaluation. We also performed a Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats analysis to provide a realistic picture of the service. Results: We performed 207 telemedicine visits involving 100 patients with a median age of 44 (interquartile range [IQR]: 35-56) years; 76.0% were women and lived at a median of 68 (IQR: 24-109) km from the Center. Thirty-nine (39.0%) were visited for migraine without aura. Patients mostly used a computer (68.1% visits) with high audio-video quality in 93.2% of visits. First and second appointments lasted in median 20 (IQR: 14-25) minutes and 9 (IQR: 7-13) minutes, respectively. Interacting with patients was very easy in 66.7% of visits. Patients reported no difficulty in sharing documents and high satisfaction in 78.6% and 93.5% of visits, respectively. Perceived complexity of clinical decisions was generally low (86.5%), whereas 8.2% of cases required in-person re-evaluation. Conclusions: Telemedicine facilitated follow-ups, ensuring multidisciplinary care and high patient satisfaction, justifying its wider adoption in headache care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Caponnetto
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.,Nursing Section, Department of Health, Life, and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Raffaele Ornello
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Eleonora De Matteis
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Sara Consilia Papavero
- ALTEMS: High School of Economics and Management of Health Systems, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Fracasso
- ALTEMS: High School of Economics and Management of Health Systems, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Di Vito
- Nursing Section, Department of Health, Life, and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Loreto Lancia
- Nursing Section, Department of Health, Life, and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Massimo Ferrara
- ALTEMS: High School of Economics and Management of Health Systems, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Sacco
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
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Neuromuscular monitoring devices - where to go next? Curr Opin Neurol 2021; 34:721-726. [PMID: 34267050 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000000977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This paper reviews the clinical applications, technology, and evidence supporting the use of telemedicine devices and telehealth in neuromuscular disease. RECENT FINDINGS The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted standard multidisciplinary care of patients with neuromuscular disease and created a need to adapt to remote care. Telemedicine applications were rapidly introduced and have rapidly proved an important tool in maintaining specialist care. This review presents the current data being gathered identifying the patients who benefit from telehealth applications, the appropriate type of telemedicine approach to specific conditions, the conditions needed to optimise telehealth approaches, and potential pitfalls and limitations in their use. SUMMARY Telemedicine is an important tool in providing robust remote care for patients with neuromuscular disorders, but further investigation is needed to optimise applications.
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Virtual visits for chronic neurologic disorders during COVID-19 pandemic. Neurol Sci 2021; 42:2607-2610. [PMID: 33774762 PMCID: PMC8003890 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05212-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Background COVID-19 pandemic has boosted telemedicine in medical clinical practice. Experiences in the management of chronic neurological disorders are limited and scattered. The aim of the study was to evaluate feasibility and efficacy of virtual visit for chronic neurological disorders during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods All patients scheduled for a visit during the lockdown period were contacted. The patients fell into four categories: (1) long-term follow-up, the patient was re-scheduled; (2) visit was necessary, teleconsultation was accepted; (3) problem was solved by phone call; and (4) visit was necessary and teleconsultation was not feasible, then visit was maintained. Google Meet was used. During the virtual visit, neurological examination was performed, and demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Results At the end of May 2020, 184 virtual visits for 178 patients were performed for the following diseases: myasthenia gravis (47 patients), multiple sclerosis (79), epilepsy (12), headache (6), and parkinsonism (34). The patients were 70 males and 108 females with a mean age of 53.5 years (range 13–90). During virtual visit, we were able to obtain a satisfactory neurological examination. Conclusions We demonstrated feasibility and effectiveness of virtual visit in the management of a large group of patients with common chronic neurological disorders.
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How to manage with telemedicine people with neuromuscular diseases? Neurol Sci 2021; 42:3553-3559. [PMID: 34173087 PMCID: PMC8232560 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05396-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION COVID-19 pandemic radically transformed our daily clinical practice, raising the need not to lose close contact with patients without being able to see them face-to-face. These issues are even more felt and evident in fragile patients, as those affected by neuromuscular disease. An important help came from new digital technologies that allow clinicians to remotely monitor health status and any deterioration of chronically ill patients. METHODS In this mini-review, an initiative of the "Digital Technologies, Web and Social Media Study Group" of the Italian Society of Neurology, we propose to analyze the approach to neuromuscular patients by looking over raising evidence on the main cornerstones of Telemedicine (TM): clinician-patient interaction, remote clinical assessment, remote monitoring, and digital therapeutics. In particular, we explored the strategies developed by researchers and their impact on the physical and emotional status of the patients, with particular focusing on their adherence to the program of virtual monitoring. RESULTS TM plays an important role in each of four stages of approach to neuromuscular disease, having demonstrated validity in keep close clinical patient interaction, clinical assessment, remote monitoring, and telerehabilitation. Nevertheless, there is no remote alternative to electrophysiological testing neither validate tools to assess disability. CONCLUSION The role of TM in neuromuscular care is yet underestimated but is crucial, beyond the pandemic era. Further development of TM is advisable, through making specific apps, remotely controlled by clinicians, and making more engaging clinicians-patients interaction. Last, it is necessary to ensure adequate internet access to everyone.
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