Patient Views on Telemedicine for Parkinson Disease

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine is increasingly used for Parkinson disease, but the perspectives of persons with Parkinson disease have not been systematically assessed. METHODS: We therefore conducted a national online survey, and 781 individuals with Parkinson disease responded. RESULTS: Of these, 76% indicated high interest, and 29% reported prior telemedicine experience. The top advantages included access to specialists (62%), convenience (60%), and time savings (59%). The most common disadvantages were the lack of hands-on care (69%), lack of intimacy (43%), and technical difficulties (37%). CONCLUSIONS: In this non-representative sample, interest in telemedicine was high but tempered by the concern for loss of high touch care.