Feasibility of telemedicine for patients with parkinsonism in the Brazilian public health system

Abstract

Background Telemedicine for patients with parkinsonism is feasible, cost-effective and satisfactory. However, the feasibility of this modality of care for this subpopulation is not known in real-life scenarios of developing countries like Brazil.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of telemedicine for patients with parkinsonism in a developing country.

Methods A cross-sectional study with patients with parkinsonism treated in the Brazilian public healthcare system. We included 130 patients, who were contacted by telephone; those who could be reached underwent a structured interview for data collection. The primary outcomes were the feasibility of teleconsultations and video consultations, but we also performed a logistic regression regarding the feasibility of a video consultation and associated factors.

Results Telemedicine was feasible and accepted by 69 (53.08%) patients regarding teleconsultations and by 50 (38.5%) patients regarding video consultations. Teleconsultations were feasible for 80.2%, and video consultations were feasible for 58.1% of the patients reachable through telephone calls. Having a higher family income was positively correlated with the feasibility for a video consultation while a negative association was observed regarding being married or in a stable union and having a low level of schooling.

Conclusions A significant proportion of patients with parkinsonism in a developing country are unreachable, unwilling, or unable to participate in telemedicine. Among the reachable patients, feasibility is higher but still lower than what is reported in studies in developed countries. Family income, level of schooling, and marital status were associated with the feasibility of video consultations.

Resumo

Antecedentes A telemedicina para pacientes com parkinsonismo é viável, econômica e satisfatória. No entanto, a viabilidade dessa modalidade de atendimento para essa subpopulação não é conhecida no cenário da vida real de países em desenvolvimento como o Brasil.

Objetivo Avaliar a viabilidade da telemedicina para pacientes com parkinsonismo em um país em desenvolvimento.

Métodos Estudo transversal com pacientes com parkinsonismo atendidos na rede pública de saúde brasileira. Foram incluídos 130 pacientes, que foram contatados por telefone; os que responderam foram submetidos a uma entrevista estruturada para coleta de dados. Os resultados primários foram a viabilidade para teleconsultas e videoconsultas, mas também foi realizada uma regressão logística entre a viabilidade de uma videoconsulta e fatores associados.

Resultados A participação em telemedicina era possível ou consentida por 69 (53,08%) dos pacientes com relação a teleconsultas, e por 50 (38,5%) com relação a videoconsultas. As teleconsultas e videoconsultas eram viáveis para 80,2% e 58,1% dos pacientes acessíveis por telefone, respectivamente. Uma maior renda familiar foi positivamente correlacionada com a viabilidade de uma videoconsulta, enquanto uma associação negativa foi observada com relação a ser casado ou estar em união estável e ter baixo grau de escolaridade.

Conclusões Uma proporção significativa de pacientes com parkinsonismo em um país em desenvolvimento é inacessível, não quer, ou não pode participar da telemedicina. Entre os pacientes contatáveis, a viabilidade é maior, mas ainda menor do que a relatada em estudos em países desenvolvidos. Renda familiar, escolaridade e estado civil foram associados à viabilidade das videoconsultas.

Keywords

Parkinsonian Disorders - Parkinson Disease - Telemedicine - Remote Consultation

Palavras-chave

Transtornos Parkinsonianos - Doença de Parkinson - Telemedicina - Consulta Remota

Authors' Contributions

DTS: conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, methodology, project administration, supervision, writing of the original draft, and review and editing of the article; DMFC, MZS: conceptualization, data curation, investigation, and review and editing of the article; MTSS, PF, LWM: data curation, investigation, and review and editing of the article; AFSS: conceptualization, formal analysis, methodology, project administration, supervision, writing of the original draft, and review and editing of the article.

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 11. Oktober 2021

Angenommen: 13. Dezember 2021

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
04. Oktober 2022

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