Background: 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth modalities have come to prominence as a strategy for providing patient care when in-person care provision opportunities are limited. The degree of adoption by neuro-ophthalmologists has not been quantified.

Methods: 

Telehealth utilization pre–COVID-19 and peri–COVID-19 was surveyed among practicing neuro-ophthalmologists in and outside the United States using an online platform. Demographics, perceived benefits, barriers, and utility for different neuro-ophthalmic conditions were collected. Data collection occurred over a 2-week period in May 2020.

Results: 

Two hundred eight practicing neuro-ophthalmologists (81.3% United States, 50.2% females, age range <35 to >65, mode 35–44 years) participated in the survey. Utilization of all telehealth modalities increased from pre-COVID to peri-COVID (video visit 3.9%–68.3%, P < 0.0005, remote interpretation of testing 26.7%–32.2%, P = 0.09, online second opinion 7.9%–15.3%, P = 0.001, and interprofessional e-consult 4.4%–18.7%, P < 0.0005, McNemar). The majority selected access, continuity, and patient efficiency of care as benefits and data quality as a barrier. Telehealth was felt to be most helpful for conditions relying on history, external examination, and previously collected ancillary testing and not helpful for conditions requiring funduscopic examination.

Conclusions: 

Telehealth modality usage by neuro-ophthalmologists increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identified benefits have relevance both during and beyond COVID-19. Further work is needed to address barriers in their current and future states to maintain these modalities as viable care delivery options.

中文翻译：

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在COVID-19大流行期间，神经眼科医生对远程医疗采用情况的调查：收益，障碍和效用

背景： 

在COVID-19大流行期间，远程医疗模式已成为一种重要的策略，可以在面对面护理机会有限的情况下为患者提供护理。神经眼科医生的采用程度尚未量化。

方法： 

使用在线平台在美国国内外的实践神经眼科医生中对COVID-19之前和COVID-19之前的远程医疗利用率进行了调查。收集了人口统计资料，不同的眼科疾病的感知收益，障碍和效用。到2020年5月，数据收集历时2周。

结果： 

208名神经外科眼科医生（美国81.3％，女性50.2％，年龄范围<35至> 65，年龄35-44岁）参加了调查。从远程COVID到外周COVID的所有远程医疗模式的使用都增加了（视频访问3.9％–68.3％，P <0.0005，远程测试解释26.7％–32.2％，P = 0.09，在线第二意见7.9％–15.3％，P = 0.001，专业间的电子咨询比例为4.4％–18.7％，P<0.0005，McNemar）。多数人选择访问，连续性和患者护理效率作为收益，选择数据质量作为障碍。远程医疗被认为对于依赖于病史，外部检查和先前收集的辅助检查的疾病最有帮助，而对于需要进行眼底镜检查的疾病则无济于事。

结论： 

在COVID-19大流行期间，神经眼科医生使用远程医疗的方式有所增加。在COVID-19期间及以后，已确定的利益相关。需要做进一步的工作来解决其当前和未来状态中的障碍，以将这些模式保持为可行的医疗服务选择。