Examining Device Usage Patterns in Outpatient Telemedicine Video Visits among Movement Disorders Patients.

BACKGROUND

Telemedicine has improved access to care, yet device usage for virtual visits remains underexplored.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize device usage patterns for video televisits across sociodemographic factors in a tertiary Movement Disorders clinic in the United States.

METHODS

We conducted a three-year retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 2181 video televisits, categorizing devices used as mobile (smartphones/tablets) or personal computers (desktops/laptops), and analyzed usage patterns across age, sex, race, and income.

RESULTS

Mobile devices were used in 88% of video televisits. Patients <60 years-old preferred mobile devices over PCs (91%, p = 0.002). Lower income patients used only mobile devices. Significant differences were detected for age and income, but effect sizes were small. Logistic regression identified only age <60 as a predictor of mobile usage (OR 1.55, p = 0.0005).

CONCLUSIONS

Mobile device usage for telemedicine is becoming increasing ubiquitous across sociodemographic factors, highlighting the need to optimize mobile telemedicine platforms and leverage mobile devices for teleresearch in Movement Disorders patients.