Provider confidence in the telemedicine spine evaluation: results from a global study

• DOI: 10.1007/s00586-020-06653-8
• Publication Date: 2020-11-22T14:02:41Z
• Authors: Francis Lovecchio; Grant J. Riew; Dino Samartzis; Philip K. Louie; Niccole Germscheid; Howard S. An; Jason Pui Yin Cheung; Norman Chutkan; Gary Michael Mallow; Marko H. Neva; Frank M. Phillips; Daniel M. Sciubba; Mohammad El-Sharkawi; Marcelo Valacco; Michael H. McCarthy; Melvin C. Makhni; Sravisht Iyer
• Keywords: Specialty; Teleradiology; Delphi Method; Telerehabilitation

To utilize data from a global spine surgeon survey to elucidate (1) overall confidence in the telemedicine evaluation and (2) determinants of provider confidence.Members AO Spine International were sent encompassing participant's experience with, perception of, comparison in-person visits. The was designed through Delphi approach, with four rounds question review by multi-disciplinary authors. Data stratified age, experience, platform, trust telemedicine, specialty.Four hundred eighty-five surgeons participated survey. effort included respondents Africa (19.9%), Asia Pacific (19.7%), Europe (24.3%), North America (9.4%), South (26.6%). Providers felt that physical exam-based tasks (e.g., provocative testing, assessing neurologic deficits/myelopathy, etc.) inferior exams, while communication-based aspects history taking, imaging review, equivalent. Participants who performed greater than 50 visits more likely believe at least equivalent ability make an accurate diagnosis (OR 2.37, 95% C.I. 1.03-5.43). Compared encounters, video (versus phone only) associated increased formulate communicate treatment plan 3.88, 1.71-8.84).Spine are confident patients, but concerned about its capacity accurately diagnoses. Future research should concentrate on standardizing remote examination development appropriate use criteria order increase technology.