Impact of telehealth on health care in a multiple sclerosis outpatient clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has precipitated expansion of telemedicine in outpatient management of chronic diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). Studies conducted pre-pandemic, when telehealth was an alternative to in-person consultations, represent a different setting to current practice. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of telehealth on MS outpatient care in a tertiary metropolitan hospital in Melbourne, Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: From March-December 2020, patients and clinicians in the MS outpatient clinic were surveyed regarding their attitudes towards telehealth. Scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDS..