Exploring the influence of telehealth on patient engagement with a multidisciplinary Non-Epileptic Seizure (NES) Clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Epilepsy Behav
; 131(Pt A): 108707, 2022 06.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1799654
ABSTRACT
The ILAE task force has identified a gap in treatment access for patients with nonepileptic seizures (NES) [1]. Access to multidisciplinary treatment clinics for adults with NES is limited with only 18 institutions delivering care across the United States [2]. Patient engagement has been low in the University of Colorado, NES Clinic treatment program despite our clinic's status as the only clinic of its kind in the mountain west. We analyzed patient factors of those who engaged in treatment before and after COVID-19 regulations were imposed and found a 23.6% increase in treatment engagement using telehealth. Those who engaged using telehealth were more likely to be of white race, of non-Hispanic ethnicity, publicly insured, employed, have a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) of zero, a daily seizure rate of 0-1, did not have suicidal ideation or attempts, and live greater than 25 miles from the NES clinic. Delivering NES treatment via telehealth reduced the logistical and psychological barriers to initiating recovery and with a severe lack of accessible treatments for patients with NES, barrier reduction is necessary. This study describes patient factors that result in higher engagement with NES treatment using telehealth and emphasizes the importance of telehealth utilization to improve access to available treatment.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Telemedicine
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Qualitative research
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
Epilepsy Behav
Journal subject:
Behavioral Sciences
/
Neurology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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