1. Feasibility of epilepsy follow-up care through telemedicine: a pilot study on the patient's perspective.
- Author
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Ahmed SN, Mann C, Sinclair DB, Heino A, Iskiw B, Quigley D, and Ohinmaa A
- Subjects
- Adult, Aftercare standards, Aged, Attitude to Health, Canada, Cost of Illness, Costs and Cost Analysis, Epilepsy psychology, Feasibility Studies, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Care Costs, Housing economics, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Satisfaction, Pilot Projects, Surveys and Questionnaires, Telemedicine economics, Travel economics, Treatment Outcome, Videoconferencing economics, Aftercare methods, Epilepsy therapy, Telemedicine methods
- Abstract
Purpose: Cost analysis and patient satisfaction with telemedicine in epilepsy care., Methods: This controlled study included out-of-town epilepsy patients coming to follow-up at the University of Alberta hospital epilepsy clinic. After an informed consent, patients were randomized to either conventional (n = 18) or telemedicine (n = 23) clinics. Patients or caregivers filled patient satisfaction and travel cost questionnaires in both alternatives. Cost per visit analysis included costs of traveling, lodging, and lost productivity., Results: Average age of the population was 41 years (range 19-73; 45% women). Eighty-three percent of patients preferred their next visit through telemedicine. About 90% of patients indicated a need for companion travel (mainly by car) to conventional clinic. For the conventional group patients the value of lost productivity was CAD $201, hotel cost CAD $8.50, and the value of car mileage CAD $256.50, totaling about CAD $466.00. Patient costs for telemedicine were CAD $35.85. Telemedicine production costs are similar to the patients' savings in traveling and lost productivity. About 90% of patients in both groups were satisfied with the quality of the service., Conclusion: Telemedicine can play a role in follow-up care of epilepsy patients, reduce patient costs, and improve patient satisfaction. This is the first full-time epilepsy telemedicine clinic in Western Canada.
- Published
- 2008
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