Session Information
Date: Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Session Title: Technology
Session Time: 12:30pm-2:00pm
Location: Exhibit Hall located in Hall B, Level 2
Objective: To improve PD care using expert telemedicine consultation to assist community neurologists in managing PD.
Background: Half of the world’s PD patients live in People’s Republic of China, but PD experts are few. Expert consultation using telemedicine can address this disparity in care.
Methods: Community neurologists were randomized 2:1 to intervention (telemedicine consultaton with expert, TELEMED) or no intervention (routine care without telemedicine consultation, NOTELEMED). All neurologists participated in a week long course on the diagnosis and management of Parkinson’s disease at the start of the study. Each neurologist was asked to enroll 5 PD patients with followup for 12 months. Patient and carer satisfaction at 12 months were the primary outcome measures. Secondary measures included UPDRS, nonmotor symptoms scale (NMSS), clinical global impression (CGI).
Results: Neurologists from 12 hospitals ranging from Inner Mongolia to Yunnan were randomized (8 TELEMED, 4 NOTELEMED). One year follow up was completed by 3 TELEMED hospitals (23 PD, mean age: 70 years; 65% men; mean PD duration 4.3 years) and 2 NOTELEMED hospitals (11 PD, mean age: 64.7 years; 55% men; mean PD duration 4.6 years). 74% of TELEMED PD and 65% of TELEMED carers were very satisfied, despite worsening CGI in 61%. In contrast, only 55% NOTELEMED PD and carers were very satisfied, despite worsening CGI in only 18%.
Conclusions: Participation in expert telemedicine consultation presents logistical challenges for many community hospitals in People’s Republic of China. Expert telemedicine consultation is highly rated by PD patients and carers, even in advanced, progressive PD. Overcoming obstacles to telemedicine, and exploring options such as in home telemedicine visits and mobile applications will be important future directions to provide care when experts are scarce.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
P.B. Chan, S. Liu, Z. Gu, J. An, C.M. Tanner. Caring for the majority: Telemedicine management of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in underserved populations in People’s Republic of China: A randomized trial [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2016; 31 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/caring-for-the-majority-telemedicine-management-of-parkinsons-disease-pd-in-underserved-populations-in-peoples-republic-of-china-a-randomized-trial/. Accessed May 15, 2025.« Back to 2016 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/caring-for-the-majority-telemedicine-management-of-parkinsons-disease-pd-in-underserved-populations-in-peoples-republic-of-china-a-randomized-trial/