Usefulness of combined telemedicine for self‐injection of calcitonin gene‐related peptide pathway targeting monoclonal antibodies

Abstract

We examined whether the combined use of telemedicine and self‐injection could improve patient satisfaction.For patients with migraine, the use of calcitonin gene‐related peptide ‐pathway targeting monoclonal antibodies is associated with concerns, such as the burden of doctor visits and anxiety around self‐injection.At four institutions, patients with migraines who used self‐injectable calcitonin gene‐related peptide ‐pathway targeting monoclonal antibodies attempted telemedicine, and web‐based questionnaires and interviews were conducted thereafter.Of the 26 participants, 58% felt that telemedicine helped with self‐injections and 65% wanted to continue using the combination. The average time required per doctor visit was reduced from 158 to 31 min, and the median from 86 to 18 min. The benefits included reduced burden (46%), ease of schedule adjustment (35%), and lower anxiety levels (19%).Although there are issues with telemedicine usage, including the burden on healthcare professionals or lower reimbursement points, the combination of self‐injection of calcitonin gene‐related peptide ‐pathway targeting monoclonal antibodies and telemedicine is effective in improving the experience of patients have migraines.