Epilepsy is a clinical diagnosis and requires an evaluation based heavily on a patient’s detailed history of events. Misdiagnosis can result in unnecessary treatment, whereas a missed diagnosis can result in increased morbidity and mortality. Previous studies show smartphone video recordings contribute to high diagnostic accuracy in identifying both epileptic and non-epileptic attacks when later confirmed by video EEG. As neurologists add smartphone videography to their armamentarium of diagnostic tools, it is important to assess patient attitudes regarding clinical utilization of smartphone videos.

This is a single site, observational, prospective, survey-based study following patients with events concerning for seizures. Most patients were enrolled during outpatient visits with an epileptologist, and a minority were enrolled as inpatients. The survey asked, in part, about patient awareness of smartphone video recording of possible seizures, and how they would feel if their event was recorded and shared with their clinician.

To date, 23 participants have completed the baseline survey. Thirty percent reported having already had an event recorded. Over 90 percent of patients were aware that smartphone videos could be used to help clinicians better classify seizures. All participants said they would feel comfortable having someone they trust record them, and a minority (23%) indicated some level of concern about their privacy in the video recording.

Most patients were previously aware that smartphone phone video could have clinical utility, with 30% having already recorded events. However, most of these patients were under the care of an epileptologist. Future work should be done to expand smartphone videography use amongst neurologists and to ensure data privacy.