Patient’s Preference and Care Quality of Telemedicine in Epilepsy Care
Abstract number :
3.464
Submission category :
13. Health Services (Delivery of Care, Access to Care, Health Care Models)
Year :
2022
Submission ID :
2232873
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/5/2022 12:00:00 PM
Published date :
Nov 22, 2022, 05:28 AM
Authors :
Ryan Chung, BS – Banner University Medical Center; Steve Chung, MD – Banner University medical Center; Emma Haas, BS – Neurology – Banner University Medical Center
This is a Late Breaking abstract
Rationale: The medical community adapted telemedicine rapidly during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, each medical specialty has unique needs, and it is unclear if patients’ medical needs are sufficiently met through telemedicine when compared to traditional in-person interactions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the patients’ preference, benefits, and limitations of telemedicine among patients with epilepsy. Additionally, we seek to understand the patients' views on physician compensation for telemedicine interactions.
Methods: We performed a 10-question survey distributed to epilepsy patients scheduled to have clinic encounters via telemedicine or in-person visits. The survey was conducted between May and July 2022 in adult patients at a single academic epilepsy center in Phoenix, Arizona. The survey had four sections with 15 questions relating to demographics, telemedicine preference, perceived quality of care, and financial implications.
Results: A total of 120 patients completed the survey (57% female). Overall, 64% of participants reported preference for telemedicine over in-person visits. While the travel distance of 10 miles or less has the highest preference of in-person visits (77%), no difference was noted between 11 to 50 miles vs. greater than 50 miles of travel distance regarding preference for telemedicine (62% vs. 64%). More women preferred in-person clinic visits (62%) compared to men (35%). Most patients reported no difference in terms of care quality or ease of appointment with telemedicine vs in-person visits. Patients’ age did not show any pattern of preference. In terms of financial implications, 18% of patients answered doctors should get reimbursed less for telemedicine. Additionally, 43% patients answered they should pay less with telemedicine.
Conclusions: The majority of patients have access to telemedicine for epilepsy care. In our survey, slightly higher number of patients preferred telemedicine visit. The highest predictor for in-person preference was seen with female patients living within a 10-mile radius of the clinic (83%). Many patients answered that the reimbursement for telemedicine visit should be less, despite no difference in care quality was reported.
Funding: Not applicable
Health Services (Delivery of Care, Access to Care, Health Care Models)