Dataset Information

Remote visits for people with multiple sclerosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria: The TELE MS randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Continuous monitoring is the hallmark of managing chronic disease. Multiple sclerosis (MS), in particular, requires patients to visit their treating neurologists typically twice a year, at least. In that respect, the COVID-19 pandemic made us rethink our communication strategies. This study determined satisfaction with remote visits for people with MS (pwMS) by comparing non-inferiority to conventional visits.

Methods

TELE MS was a randomized controlled trial that was open to any person with MS. We randomized a volunteer sample of 45 patients. We compared satisfaction with remote visits (via phone or via videochat) with conventional outpatient visits. The primary endpoint was patient satisfaction determined by the Telemedicine Perception Questionnaire (TMPQ, min: 17 and max: 85 points) with the hypothesis of non-inferiority of televisits to conventional visits. Physician satisfaction measured on the PPSM score (Patient and Physician Satisfaction with Monitoring, min: 5 and max: 25 points) was the secondary endpoint.

Results

The trial met both endpoints. Mean (SD) TMPQ scores in the individual groups were 58 (6.7) points for conventional visits, 65 (7.5) points for phone visits, and 62 (5.5) points for video visits. Physician satisfaction over the whole cohort was similarly high. Median (range) PPSM scores were 23 (16-25) for the whole cohort, 19 (16-25) for conventional visits, 25 (17-25) for phone visits, and 25 (16-25) for video visits.

Conclusions

Televisits in multiple sclerosis yield a high level of satisfaction for both patients and treating physicians. This concept for remote patient monitoring adopted during the current pandemic may be communicable to other chronic diseases as well. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04838990.

SUBMITTER: Altmann P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9277439 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Remote visits for people with multiple sclerosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria: The TELE MS randomized controlled trial.

Altmann Patrick P Leutmezer Fritz F Ponleitner Markus M Ivkic Dominik D Krajnc Nik N Rommer Paulus Stefan PS Berger Thomas T Bsteh Gabriel G

Digital health 20220101

<h4>Introduction</h4>Continuous monitoring is the hallmark of managing chronic disease. Multiple sclerosis (MS), in particular, requires patients to visit their treating neurologists typically twice a year, at least. In that respect, the COVID-19 pandemic made us rethink our communication strategies. This study determined satisfaction with remote visits for people with MS (pwMS) by comparing non-inferiority to conventional visits.<h4>Methods</h4>TELE MS was a randomized controlled trial that was ...[more]

PMID: 35847524

Similar Datasets

Project description:IntroductionAlthough physical activity may reduce disease burden, fatigue and disability, and improve quality of life among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), many people with MS are physically inactive and spend significant time in sedentary behaviour. Behaviour change interventions may assist people with MS to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour. However, few studies have investigated their effectiveness using objective measures of physical activity, particularly in the long term. Further, interventions that have proven effective in the short term may not be feasible in clinical practice because of the large amount of support provided. The iStep-MS trial aims to determine the safety, feasibility and acceptability of a behaviour change intervention to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour among people with MS.Methods and analysisSixty people with MS will be randomised (1:1 ratio) to receive a 12-week intervention or usual care only. The intervention consists of four physical activity consultations with a physiotherapist supported by a handbook and pedometer. Outcomes assessed at baseline, 12 weeks and 9 months are physical activity (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometer), sedentary behaviour (activPAL3µ), self-reported activity and sitting time, walking capability, fatigue, self-efficacy, participation, quality of life and health service use. The safety of the intervention will be determined by assessing change in pain and fatigue and the incidence of adverse events during the follow-up period. A parallel process evaluation will assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention through assessment of fidelity to the programme and semistructured interviews exploring participants' and therapists' experiences of the intervention. The feasibility of conducting an economic evaluation will be determined by collecting data on quality of life and resource use.Ethics and disseminationResearch ethics committee approval has been granted from Brunel University London. Results of the trial will be submitted for publication in journals and distributed to people with MS and physiotherapists.Trial registration numberISRCTN15343862 (doi 10.1186/ISRCTN15343862). Protocol version: 1.0; Pre-results.

Project description:IntroductionUsing tele-rehabilitation methods to deliver exercise, physical activity (PA) and behaviour change interventions for people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) has increased in recent years, especially since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the literature regarding adherence to therapeutic exercise and PA delivered via tele-rehabilitation for pwMS.Methods and analysisFrameworks described by Arksey and O'Malley and Levac et al underpin the methods. The following databases will be searched from 1998 to the present: Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Health Management Information Consortium Database, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, Pedro, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, US National Library of Medicine Registry of Clinical Trials, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform portal and The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. To identify papers not included in databases, relevant websites will be searched. Searches are planned for 2023. With the exception of study protocols, papers on any study design will be included. Papers reporting information regarding adherence in the context of prescribed therapeutic exercise and PA delivered via tele-rehabilitation for pwMS will be included. Information relating to adherence may comprise; methods of reporting adherence, adherence levels (eg, exercise diaries, pedometers), investigation of pwMS' and therapists' experiences of adherence or a discussion of adherence. Eligibility criteria and a custom data extraction form will be piloted on a sample of papers. Quality assessment of included studies will use Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklists. Data analysis will involve categorisation, enabling findings relating to study characteristics and research questions to be presented in narrative and tabular format.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was not required for this protocol. Findings will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and presented at conferences. Consultation with pwMS and clinicians will help to identify other dissemination methods.

Project description:Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has radically changed the world in a few weeks. Italy has been one of the first and most affected countries with more than 30,000 deaths up to now. Public health measures as quarantine or national lockdown are necessary to limit the spread of infectious diseases, but it is unsurprising that depriving people of their liberty has negative psychological effects. This is especially the case for people with chronic diseases, including neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS). People with MS (PwMS) have a higher burden of neuropsychiatric comorbidities and are known to undertake maladaptive coping strategies in stress conditions. The aim of the present study is to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on mental health of an Italian cohort of PwMS in comparison with healthy controls (HCs). Methods: A total of 60 PwMS and 50 HCs (chosen among patients' cohabitants) were asked to answer a Web-based survey. This survey inquired about the impact of COVID-19 on patient's quality of life, job, and daily routine. Mood, fatigue, and sleep quality were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), the Generalized Anxiety Disease 7 (GAD-7), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: Overall, patients had higher scores of BDI, FSS, and PSQI, and these differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). When we looked at the subscores of the BDI, we detected a statistically significant difference for the neurovegetative part-that concerns with sleep, appetite, sex, and quality of sleep (p < 0.05). One out of five patients reported new symptoms or worsening of known symptom, in particular, sensory disturbances, and fatigue. However, no symptoms were severe enough to require hospitalization. When we looked for correlations among variables, we found that there was a significant relationship between unemployment and BDI total score, GAD-7, and PSQI in MS group. The presence of new symptoms or the worsening of symptoms positively related to FSS and to PSQI. Discussion: We identified that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic had a significant impact on the psychological status of patients with MS. Compared with the general population, PwMS presented a higher burden of depressive symptoms, a worse sleep quality and perceived an increase in fatigue level, one of the most disabling symptoms of MS. The COVID-19 epidemic poses a challenge to psychological resilience. More studies are warranted to better understand the long-term consequences of the pandemic on mental health of vulnerable people during the disease outbreaks.

Dataset Information

Remote visits for people with multiple sclerosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria: The TELE MS randomized controlled trial.

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Remote visits for people with multiple sclerosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria: The TELE MS randomized controlled trial.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets