RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Virtual visits for Parkinson disease
JF Neurology: Clinical Practice
FD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
SP 283
OP 295
DO 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000371
VO 7
IS 4
A1 Korn, Ryan E.
A1 Shukla, Aparna Wagle
A1 Katz, Maya
A1 Keenan, H. Tait
A1 Goldenthal, Steven
A1 Auinger, Peggy
A1 Zhu, William
A1 Dodge, Michael
A1 Rizer, Kyle
A1 Achey, Meredith A.
A1 Byrd, Erica
A1 Barbano, Richard
A1 Richard, Irene
A1 Andrzejewski, Kelly L.
A1 Schwarz, Heidi B.
A1 Dorsey, E. Ray
A1 Biglan, Kevin M.
A1 Kang, Gail
A1 Kanchana, Sulada
A1 Rodriguez, Ramon
A1 Tanner, Caroline M.
A1 Galifianakis, Nicholas B.
YR 2017
UL http://cp.neurology.org/content/7/4/283.abstract
AB Background: Previous small-scale studies have demonstrated the feasibility of providing remote specialty care via virtual visits. We assessed the feasibility and benefits of a one-time consultation between a remote Parkinson Disease (PD) specialist and an individual with PD at home on a larger scale.Methods: We conducted a multicenter noncontrolled cohort of virtual visits administered over videoconferencing between remote PD specialists and individuals with PD in their home. Specialists performed a patient history and a PD-specific physical examination and provided recommendations to patients and their local physicians. The primary outcome measures were feasibility, as measured by the proportion of visits completed as scheduled, and the 6-month change in quality of life, as measured by the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire 39. Additional outcomes included satisfaction with visits and interest in future virtual visits.Results: A total of 277 participants from 5 states enrolled, 258 participants completed virtual visits with 14 different physicians, and 91% of visits were completed as scheduled. No improvement in quality of life was observed at 6 months (0.4-point improvement; 95% confidence interval −1.5 to 0.6; p = 0.39). Overall satisfaction with virtual visits was high among physicians (94% satisfied or very satisfied) and patients (94% satisfied or very satisfied), and 74% of participants were interested in receiving future care via virtual visits.Conclusions: Providing specialty care remotely into the homes of individuals with PD is feasible, but a one-time visit did not improve quality of life. Satisfaction with the visits was high among physicians and patients, who were interested in receiving such care in the future.Classification of evidence: This study provides Class IV evidence that for patients with PD, remote specialty care is feasible but does not improve quality of life.Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02144220.