ABSTRACT
Objective: 1. Describe telemedicine utilization (TMU) during the COVID-19 pandemic among neurology outpatients with myasthenia gravis (MG);2. Analyze characteristics of patients completing virtual video visits (VVV) compared to audio visits only (AVO). Background: TMU data by patients with MG are limited. Effects of demographic characteristics on MG patients' TMU and choice between VVV and AVO are unknown. Design/Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using Mass General Brigham's (MGB) data warehouse. Inclusion criteria were: 1) adult patients with autoimmune MG (ICD10 code = G70.∗);2) ≥ 1 outpatient neurology encounter for MG among 4 MGB hospitals April 1, 2020 - March 31, 2021. Chart review excluded congenital myasthenic syndromes, LambertEaton myasthenic syndrome and patients without a confirmed MG diagnosis. Primary outcome was any TMU. Secondary outcome was proportion of telemedicine users achieving ≥ 1 VVV. EMR portal status was a proxy for digital literacy and access. Analyses included descriptive statistics, Chi Square test, and multivariable logistic regression. Results: 459 MG patients completed 1083 neurology encounters: 451 (41.6%) in-person, 481 (44.4%) VVV and 151 (13.9%) AVO. 336/459 (73.2%) achieved telemedicine utilization (TMU). Baseline patient characteristics (age, sex, race/ethnicity, language, state of residence, insurance, distance to neurologist, portal access) were not associated with TMU. Patients with a MGB PCP were less likely to participate in telemedicine (OR 0.60 [0.36-0.99]). Of 336 patients with TMU, 259 (77.1%) had ≥ 1 VVV, while 77 (22.9%) had AVO. The AVO group had a smaller proportion of white patients (76.6% vs.84.3%, p=0.031). In adjusted analysis, no characteristics remained associated with VVV achievement. Conclusions: During 1 year of COVID-19, this MG cohort had high utilization rates of TM (73.2%) and VVV (77.1%). Older age, non-English language and portal inactivity were not associated with lower rates of TMU and VVV. Future studies should assess regional variation and outcomes of TMU in MG.
ABSTRACT
Aim and objective: The high fatality rate of the corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to the development of vaccines over a very short period of time. This is a study to assess the vaccine acceptability among Indian healthcare workers (HCWs) and to evaluate the knowledge, fears, and intentions among them regarding COVID-19 vaccination and to estimate the number of HCWs who will accept or refuse vaccination. Materials and methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study on COVID-19 vaccination was done in three tertiary hospitals by an anonymous online questionnaire. Doctors, nurses, students, and laboratory and administration staff were invited to take part.