Objective: To assess the satisfaction with telemedicine for speech and swallowing disorders among patients with PD and speech language pathologists (SLP) as well as the patients’ motivation for home practice following the treatment.
Background: The COVID-pandemic has facilitated the implementation of telemedicine in speech and swallowing therapy for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Providing this mode of intervention from distance improves the access for patients with PD who might otherwise be deprived of SLP assessment or treatment.
Method: Thirty PD patients and 15 SLPs answered anonymous online questionnaires designed to examine the satisfaction and motivation with telemedicine for speech and swallowing disorders. Three questionnaires were designed to examine the patients’ satisfaction and motivation, SLPs satisfaction, and patients’ motivation from telemedicine according to SLPs reports.
Results: Degree of satisfaction with telemedicine is high among patients and SLPs (M = 3.64, SD = .51). No significant difference was found between patients who live in the peripheral region compared with patients who live in the central region of Israel (t (28) = .227, p=.882). Most of the SLPs reported that online treatment (M = 2.87, SD = .83) and follow-up sessions (M = 3.33, SD = .83) can be a substitute for frontal treatments but cannot replace a frontal evaluation (M = 2.33, SD = 1.1). Patients living in the north have a higher motivation for telemedicine compared to patients from the center of the country. Patients tend to practice more when receiving online treatment compared to frontal treatment. According to the patients’ perception, the more their home environment allows for optimal and quality care, the higher their motivation to participate in telemedicine (r(27) = 0.304, p=0.075). It appears that with age, the motivation to participate in online treatment decreased (r(28) = .211, p=.132). No technical problems were reported.
Conclusion: It seems that telemedicine in speech and swallowing therapies can be a feasible substitute for frontal therapy sessions for PD patients without compromising patients’ motivation to practice and actively participate in the therapy sessions.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Y. Manor, D. Shpunt, A. Zait, A. Ezra, N. Hezi, L. Jokel, H. First, N. Karin, M. Zirler, M. Kalish, L. Raif, A. Migirov Sandrovitz, T. Gurevich1. Telemedicine in speech and swallowing disorders for patients with Parkinson’s disease: Motivation and satisfaction of patients and speech language pathologists [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2022; 37 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/telemedicine-in-speech-and-swallowing-disorders-for-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-motivation-and-satisfaction-of-patients-and-speech-language-pathologists/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to 2022 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/telemedicine-in-speech-and-swallowing-disorders-for-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-motivation-and-satisfaction-of-patients-and-speech-language-pathologists/