Abstract Details

Title Examining Disparities and Device Usage in Outpatient Telemedicine Visits Among Movement Disorders Patients

Topic Movement Disorders

Presentation(s) P4 - Poster Session 4 (5:00 PM-6:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 5-020

Objective To characterize trends in device usage (mobile-device vs. personal computer (PC)) across demographic factors for video-based telemedicine visits in an urban tertiary Movement Disorders clinic in the U.S.

Background The rise of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic has improved healthcare access, but data on device usage and disparities in telemedicine access remains limited. We hypothesized high mobile-device usage and ubiquity of telemedicine utilization across diverse demographic groups.

Design/Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of all televisits with Movement Disorders neurologists at Rush University from March 2020 to March 2023, analyzing visit-specific data embedded within the electronic medical record. We analyzed variations in device usage patterns across different age groups (<20, 20-39, 40-59, 60-79, >80 years), sex, race, and socioeconomic status (zip code median income). Televisits were categorized into mobile-only (smartphones and tablets) or PC-only. Chi-square tests examined the device usage distribution, with effect sizes calculated to assess the strength of differences. Logistic regression analyzed the odds of mobile-only usage.

Results

We identified 2,181 unique patient televisits. 87.8% of televisits were accessed with mobile-devices (n=1,915) and only 12.2% with PCs (n=266). The mean age of mobile users was slightly lower at 62.1 vs. 64.9 years in PC-users (p=0.02) with more than half of patients in the 60-79 age group (56.5%). The Chi-Square analysis revealed statistically significant but clinically insignificant results due to small effect sizes (both 0.07): younger patients (<20) showed the highest mobile use (p=0.03) and the lowest income quintile had 100% mobile usage while the highest quintile had the lowest (p=0.03). Logistic regression revealed no significant predictors of mobile usage.

Conclusions Mobile-device use for telemedicine in Movement Disorders is widespread across all demographics. These findings emphasize the role smartphones play in facilitating access to telemedicine, suggesting that enhancing mobile-based telemedicine applications could improve healthcare equity particularly for vulnerable populations.

Authors/Disclosures
Vijay Palakuzhy, MBBS (University of Illinois at Chicago) PRESENTER	Vijay Palakuzhy has nothing to disclose.
Glenn T. Stebbins, PhD (Rush University Medical Center)	Dr. Stebbins has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Biogen. Dr. Stebbins has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Partners Healthcare System. Dr. Stebbins has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for CHDI. The institution of Dr. Stebbins has received research support from Department of Defense. Dr. Stebbins has received research support from Cleveland Clinic Health Systems. Dr. Stebbins has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Course Director with MDS.
Christopher Goetz, MD, FAAN (Rush University Medical Center)	The institution of Dr. Goetz has received research support from Michael J. Fox Foundation. The institution of Dr. Goetz has received research support from NIH. The institution of Dr. Goetz has received research support from Department of Defense. Dr. Goetz has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. Dr. Goetz has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. Dr. Goetz has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care.
Mitra Afshari, MD (Rush University Movement Disrders)	Dr. Afshari has received research support from Consolidated Anti-Aging Foundation . Dr. Afshari has received research support from Parkinson Study Group.

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