Telemedicine for cognitive impairment: a telephone survey of patients’ experiences with neurological video consultation

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the experience with telemedicine in patients with cognitive impairments and their caregivers. Methods We conducted a survey-based study of patients who completed neurological consultation via video link between January and April 2022. Results A total of 62 eligible neurological video consultations were conducted for the following categories of patients: Alzheimer’s disease (33.87%), amnesic mild cognitive impairment (24.19%), frontotemporal dementia (17.74%), Lewy body dementia (4.84%), mixed dementia (3.23%), subjective memory disorders (12.90%), non-amnesic mild cognitive impairment (1.61%), and multiple system atrophy (1.61%). The survey was successfully completed by 87.10% of the caregivers and directly by the patients in 12.90% of cases. Our data showed positive feedback regarding the telemedicine experience; both caregivers and patients reported that they found neurological video consultation useful (caregivers: 87.04%, ‘very useful’; patients: 87.50%, ‘very useful’) and were satisfied overall (caregivers: 90.74%, ‘very satisfied’; patients: 100%, ‘very satisfied’). Finally, all caregivers (100%) agreed that neurological video consultation was a useful tool to reduce their burden (Visual Analogue Scale mean ± SD: 8.56 ± 0.69). Conclusions Telemedicine is well received by patients and their caregivers. However, successful delivery incorporates support from staff and care partners to navigate technologies. The exclusion of older adults with cognitive impairment in developing telemedicine systems may further exacerbate access to care in this population. Adapting technologies to the needs of patients and their caregivers is critical for the advancement of accessible dementia care through telemedicine.

Continuity of care for patients with dementia during COVID-19 pandemic: flexibility and integration between in-person and remote visits

“…Evidence reveal escalating pressures on families and caregivers, both emotionally and financially, alongside substantial financial strains on the entire healthcare system (10). Hence, telemedicine services represent an innovative solution that lessens the burden on patients' support networks, is more environmentally friendly, and incurs reduced costs compared to in-person appointments (11)(12)(13). While further investigations are necessary to gauge the environmental impact and social costs, telemedicine has been reported as a feasible approach to assist individuals with dementia stay connected to their service providers amid the pandemic (14).…”

Perceptions of Patients, Caregivers, and Healthcare Professionals toward Telemedicine Use for Cognitive and Movement Disorders in the Aegean Islands, Greece: A Pilot Study of the SI4CARE European Project

“…Most studies have indicated positive perceptions toward the use of telemedicine among patients with dementia and their caregivers [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ], as well as among patients with Parkinson’s disease [ 7 ]. A recent scoping review aiming to describe the effectiveness and user experience of using telemedicine services for individuals with dementia and their caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that overall, participants perceive this mode of care delivery positively [ 12 ].…”