Usefulness, limitations, and parental opinion about teleconsultation for rare pediatric epilepsies

Abstract

Aim

Evaluation of the usefulness and the parental opinion about teleconsultation (TC) for rare pediatric epilepsies.

Method

One-month prospective survey of consecutive TCs. All clinics on site have been turned into TC in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. The physicians quoted all TCs while the parents expressed their opinion though an invitation for an online questionnaire.

Results

We included 151 TCs (145 patients) among the 259 epilepsy TCs done during the study period. The parental questionnaire has been answered 105 times. The physicians felt confident to organize a TC for the next visit of 74.8% of the children, but some limits were identified such as the absence of physical examination, weight, and psychomotor development evaluation.

The physicians felt more confident for a new TC in older patients (9.5 ± 5.5 years versus 5.3 ± 4.3 years) and in stable patients (73.8% confident for instable, 82.8% for stable). Parents were satisfied with TC feeling that it answered health issues in a better manner than a clinic pinpointing the gain of time and the absence of travel. However, half of them would prefer a clinic for the next appointment.

Interpretation

Teleconsultation seems useful answering the patients’ needs according to both physicians and families. Despite some limitations, it is most likely that TCs become a new part of the clinical activities in rare pediatric epilepsy centers.