What are the goals of this study?
This study was conducted to learn about how people with MS are using telemedicine for different types of services, and what their experience has been like. Another goal was to learn about how people feel about telemedicine in terms of its benefits and its drawbacks. This study was part of a larger project to inform and support the healthcare advocacy program of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Who led the study and what was the funding source?
The study's principal investigator is Mitchell Wallin, MD, at the VA Medical Center Neurology Service in Washington, DC. The study funder is the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
How was the study conducted?
In January 2020, iConquerMS members were invited to fill out a survey asking about the types of healthcare they were receiving, either in-person or by telemedicine. For those who had had a telemedicine visit, the survey asked for the details of the visit, any issues experienced, and the reason for using telemedicine. Participants were also asked for their views of the advantages and disadvantages of telemedicine, and whether they preferred in-person visits or telemedicine for certain types of healthcare services.
The survey was repeated in the fall of 2020 in response to the increased use of telemedicine as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A subset of iConquerMS members were also interviewed to learn about their experiences in more detail.
What is the study status?
The results have been analyzed and are being prepared for publication.
Learn more:
Video: "Chat with Chat" interview with Mitchell Wallin
Share this project summary with others:
https://www.iconquerms.org/project-MS-telemedicine-experiences