Improving telehealth for persons with multiple sclerosis - a cross-sectional study from the Australian MS longitudinal study

Y C Learmonth; B Galna; L L Laslett; I van der Mei; C H Marck

doi:10.1080/09638288.2023.2289594

Improving telehealth for persons with multiple sclerosis - a cross-sectional study from the Australian MS longitudinal study

Disabil Rehabil. 2023 Dec 13:1-8. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2023.2289594. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Y C Learmonth^{1

2

3}, B Galna^{1

2

3}, L L Laslett⁴, I van der Mei⁴, C H Marck⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Allied Health (Exercise Science), Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia.
² Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, and Centre for Healthy Ageing, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia.
³ Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, Australia.
⁴ Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
⁵ Disability and Health Unit, the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.

PMID: 38088346
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2023.2289594

Abstract

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted healthcare delivery, especially for people with chronic disease. We investigated telehealth use by persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) during the COVID-19 pandemic and their suggestions to improve their telehealth experience.

Methods: From persons with MS, we collected data on demographic, disease-related and social determinants of health, telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic, satisfaction with telehealth, and suggestions to improve telehealth. We conducted univariate log-binomial regression to establish factors associated with telehealth use versus no use, summarised experiences and suggestions for improvement with frequency tables, and conducted thematic analysis on free-text suggestions for improvement.

Results: Of 1,485 participants, 69.8% used telehealth during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only small differences were observed for demographic, disease and social health determinants between telehealth users and non-users. Most participants who used telehealth had good or very good experiences (new providers:74.3%; existing providers:78.6%). The most common suggestion for improving telehealth experience was "guidance on preparing for telehealth sessions." Participants also wanted expansion in telehealth availability and utility.

Conclusion: Persons with MS in Australia commonly used telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and were generally satisfied with their experiences. Implementing the suggested improvements will help optimise telehealth for persons with MS.

Registration: N/A.

Keywords: COVID-19; Multiple sclerosis; consumer; telehealth.

Plain language summary

Australians with multiple sclerosis (MS) had good or very good experiences of telehealth during the first year of the pandemic.Telehealth is a useful consultation tool for many rehabilitation professions and may be appropriate for use across the whole MS population.To improve the delivery of rehabilitation through telehealth, provision of better guidance on preparing for telehealth consultations and provision of digital equipment to monitor their health is wanted by persons with MS.Rehabilitation professionals and researchers should take opportunities to identify if proficiency in the English language and cultural background may influence experiences with telehealth in persons with MS.