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

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  Both parents and physicians are pleased with the teleconsultation.

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  Medical needs are satisfied using teleconsultation in rare pediatric epilepsies.

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  Clinics at the hospital are more frequently wished for the younger patients.

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  The gain of time with the teleconsultation is appreciated by the families.

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.