Volume 24, Issue 105, September - October, 2020

Implementation of Virtual Consultations for Epilepsy during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Neurologists in Saudi Arabia

Reem Alyoubi^1,2♦, Sumayyah Kobeisy², Ahmed Elkady³, Mashael Bamusa⁴, Seham Alotaibi⁴, Osama Muthaffar¹, Ahmed Bamaga¹, Sulaiman Alhindi⁵, Naseem Alyahyawi¹, Huda Alyahyawi⁶

¹Pediatric Department, KingAbdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah Saudi Arabia
²Pediatric Department, Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
³Neurology Department, Saudi German Hospital, Saudi Arabia
⁴Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
⁵Faculty of Medicine, Kind Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
⁶Psychiatry Division, Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Dr. Reem Alyoubi, Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Email:- raalyoubi@kau.edu.sa

ABSTRACT

Background: To reduce disease exposure, telemedicine has been used to help healthcare systems that have been faced with challenges since the COIVD-19 outbreak in managing emergency departments, outpatient care clinics and providing ongoing care to those with chronic illnesses such as epilepsy. Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the emergency implementation of virtual consultations among neurologists in Saudi Arabia in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to September 2020 in survey format distributed electronically to neurologists practicing in Saudi Arabia. Descriptive and correlative statistical analyses were performed to identify factors associated with onsite and virtual clinic visits in those treating patients with epilepsy. Results: A total of 92 neurologists participated in the study. The majority of neurologists (75%) care for COVID-19 patients along with their regular clinic duties. There was statistical significance between the duration of the virtual visit in comparison to the onsite clinic visit and the neurologists’ views on the future of teleneurology for epilepsy patients( (4, = 92) = 18.673, = 0.001). Conclusion: Virtual consultations have been a way to decrease personal contact and disease exposure since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. For those suffering with chronic conditions such as epilepsy, telemedicine may be a useful resource in following up with a neurologist and medication changes may be successfully made.

Keywords: Telemedicine, virtual consultation, COVID-29, Epilepsy

Medical Science, 2020, 24(105), 3717-3723

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