Improving telehealth for persons with multiple sclerosis - a cross-sectional study from the Australian MS longitudinal study.
Y C Learmonth, B Galna, L L Laslett and 2 others
PMID 38088346WHAT IT FOUND
Most participants with MS used telehealth, and most who rated it said it was positive.
They wanted preparation guidance, remote monitoring devices, and ways to do physical tests or treatment remotely.
Key findings
0169.8% (1,036/1,485) of participants used telehealth between March and October 2020.
0278.6% (782/995) of people who rated telehealth with existing providers had a positive experience, and 74.3% (199/268) of people who rated telehealth with new providers had a positive experience.
03Among 905 telehealth users who chose at least one suggestion, 545 (60%) chose guidance on preparing for telehealth sessions, 236 (26%) chose digital equipment to monitor health, and 197 (22%) chose access to a local clinic with online facilities.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
This was a cross-sectional survey, so it describes associations and experiences but cannot show that telehealth caused better or worse outcomes. The sample came from the Australian MS Longitudinal Study, not a random sample of all Australians with MS, and completers of the telehealth questions tended to be slightly older than non-completers. The study did not explore characteristics of in-person consultations or reasons why participants chose not to use telehealth. It did not distinguish which health condition participants sought telehealth for. The qualitative themes were based on free-text comments from 75 participants who provided relevant suggestions. The associations with telehealth use were statistically significant but small and may not be clinically important.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the positive ratings as proof that telehealth is equivalent to in-person MS rehabilitation. This was a self-report survey, not a trial, and participants still wanted remote or self-administered physical tests and treatment because movement and sensory checks were difficult to do by telehealth.