Patient preference for virtual versus in‐person visits in neuromuscular clinical practice. Issue 2 (3rd June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hafeez, Komal; Kushlaf, Hani; Al‐Sultani, Husam; Joseph, Anny‐Claude; Zaeem, Zoya; Siddiqi, Zaeem; Laboy, Shannon; Pulley, Michael; Habib, Ali A.; Robbins, Nathaniel M.; Zadeh, Sean; Hafeez, Muhammad Ubaid; Hussain, Yessar; Melendez‐Zaidi, Alexandria; Kassardjian, Charles; Johnson, Kristin; Leonhard, Holly; Biliciler, Suur; Patino Murillas, Jorge E.; Shaibani, Aziz I.
• Is Part Of: Muscle & nerve. Volume 66:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 142
• Page End: 147
• Publication Date: 2022-06-03
• Subjects: COVID‐19 -- in‐person -- neuromuscular -- preference -- telemedicine -- virtual; Neuromuscular diseases -- Periodicals; Muscles -- Periodicals; Nerves -- Periodicals; 616.74
• DOI: 10.1002/mus.27641
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0148-639X

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction/Aims: It is unknown if patients with neuromuscular diseases prefer in‐person or virtual telemedicine visits. We studied patient opinions and preference on virtual versus in‐person visits, and the factors influencing such preferences. Methods: Telephone surveys, consisting of 11 questions, of patients from 10 neuromuscular centers were completed. Results: Five hundred and twenty surveys were completed. Twenty‐six percent of respondents preferred virtual visits, while 50% preferred in‐person visits. Sixty‐four percent reported physical interaction as "very important." For receiving a new diagnosis, 55% preferred in‐person vs 35% reporting no preference. Forty percent were concerned about a lack of physical examination vs 20% who were concerned about evaluating vital signs. Eighty four percent reported virtual visits were sufficiently private. Sixty eight percent did not consider expenses a factor in their preference. Although 92% were comfortable with virtual communication technology, 55% preferred video communications, and 19% preferred phone calls. Visit preference was not significantly associated with gender, diagnosis, disease severity, or symptom management. Patients who were concerned about a lack of physical exam or assessment of vitals had significantly higher odds of selecting in‐person visits than no preference. Discussion: Although neither technology, privacy, nor finance burdened patients in our study, more patients preferred in‐person visits than virtual visits and 40% were concerned about a lack of physical examination. Interactions that occur with in‐person encounters had high importance for patients, reflecting differences in the perception of the patient‐physician relationship between virtual and in‐person visits.