Video teleconsultation services for persons with epilepsy during COVID-19 pandemic: An exploratory study from public tertiary care hospital in Southern India on feasibility, satisfaction, and effectiveness

Highlights

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a large unmet need for follow-up services, for diseases such as epilepsy.

• Synchronous mobile video teleconsultation model is an effective method to follow up persons with epilepsy.

• Even in low-middle-income countries like India, 90% of participants expressed satisfaction with this service.

• This model has an advantage that it does not require any mobile application to be downloaded.

• Further measures are required to make this service more feasible.

Abstract

Purpose

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a large unmet need for follow-up services, particularly for chronic diseases such as epilepsy. Alternative methods to reach these people have become necessary. We assessed the feasibility, satisfaction, and effectiveness of video teleconsultation using mobile phones for managing persons with epilepsy (PWEs) on follow-up at a tertiary care center in the southern part of India.

Patients and methods

We included PWEs aged 18 years and over who have been evaluated in person within the past six months, with details available in electronic health records (EHRs), and advised regular follow-up after getting telephonic consent. We excluded those requiring emergency care and those seeking teleconsultation for new symptoms. Participants were sent a message in English and in the local language about the possibility of a video teleconsultation. If willing, they were informed about the date, time, and technical requirements such as smartphones, browsing facilities, etc. Feasibility and effectiveness were assessed. Satisfaction/acceptability was assessed using Telemedicine Satisfaction Questionnaire.

Results

From June 2020 to October 2020, we selected 336 PWEs after screening 1100 records, and we tried video teleconsultation in 141 (41.8%) PWEs. We achieved successful video connections in 95 (28.2%) and audio consultations in 46 (13.6%). The median duration for calling the participants, making successful connections, and consultation was 8 (5–14) min. The majority required two (47.4%) or three (32.6%) attempts. Sixty-five PWEs (68.4%) used caretaker’s mobile phones. We gave prescriptions to all, and 18 received new drugs. Out of 95 PWEs, 90% either ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ on 12 out of 14 telemedicine satisfaction questions.

Conclusion

Although we need to make video teleconsultation more feasible, our synchronous mobile video teleconsultation model is an effective and acceptable method to follow up PWEs. This real-time model has the advantage that it does not require any mobile application to be downloaded and installed. Further studies are needed to evaluate methods to improve the reach of these services particularly to vulnerable groups of the population.