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Healthcare Disruptions and Use of Telehealth Services Among People With Multiple Sclerosis During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Chen, Michelle H; Goverover, Yael; Botticello, Amanda; DeLuca, John; Genova, Helen M.
  • Chen MH; Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
  • Goverover Y; Department of Occupational Therapy, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, NY; Kessler Foundation, East Hanover, NJ.
  • Botticello A; Kessler Foundation, East Hanover, NJ; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States.
  • DeLuca J; Kessler Foundation, East Hanover, NJ; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States.
  • Genova HM; Kessler Foundation, East Hanover, NJ; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States. Electronic address: hgenova@kesslerfoundation.org.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil ; 103(7): 1379-1386, 2022 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2003864
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:

The current study examined health care disruptions and use of telehealth services among people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN:

Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING:

General community.

PARTICIPANTS:

Participants (N=163) included 70 pwMS and 93 healthy controls (HCs). The majority of respondents were from the United States (88%).

INTERVENTIONS:

Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Rates of health care disruptions (eg, missing/canceling appointments, experiencing delays) and telehealth use for MS and non-MS medical care and mental health care.

RESULTS:

In this U.S. majority, predominantly White, and high socioeconomic status sample, 38% to 50% of pwMS reported experiencing disruptions in their MS and non-MS medical care and 20% to 33% reported disruptions in their mental health care; this was significantly lower than the rates observed among HCs. Compared with HCs, pwMS were more likely to use telehealth than in-person services, especially for mental health care. The majority of pwMS and HCs reported being satisfied with telehealth services. Individuals with higher degrees of functional limitation experienced more health care disruptions and were more likely to use telehealth services than individuals with lower degrees of functional limitation.

CONCLUSIONS:

Despite high health care disruption rates, pwMS frequently used and were highly satisfied with telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to physical limitations commonly observed in the MS population that may preclude travel, telehealth services should be continued even after resolution of the pandemic to expand access and reduce health care disparities.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Telemedicine / COVID-19 / Multiple Sclerosis Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Telemedicine / COVID-19 / Multiple Sclerosis Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Year: 2022 Document Type: Article