Neurologists Express High Interest in New MS-Specific eHealth Service

Many neurological practices and clinics have a high interest in and could greatly benefit from a multiple sclerosis (MS)-specific eHealth service, although the current actual usage level for existing electronic documentation systems is much lower than anticipated, according to a recent survey conducted in Germany and published in the Interactive Journal of Medical Research (published online January 6, 2016; 10.2196/ijmr.4549). 

Researchers led by Tjalf Ziemssen, MD, University of Technology, Dresden, Germany, had previously developed an electronic, large-scale documentation system with standardized interfaces, known as the Multiple Sclerosis Documentations System 3D, and tested how likely MS patients were to use the system.   

For this study, the next step in establishing their system, researchers collected data from 74 neurologists across Germany using a questionnaire, with 43% of the clinics specializing in MS care. The questionnaire consisted of 24 items covering characteristics of participating neurological practices, the current use of network technology and the internet in such neurological practices, physicians’ attitudes toward the general and MS-related usefulness of eHealth systems, their attitudes toward the clinical documentation via electronic health records, and physicians’ knowledge about the Multiple Sclerosis Documentation System. 

They found that 43% opted for an online interface whereas 58% decided on an offline method of data transmission. Among the participating centers, 91% welcomed the opportunity of a specific clinical documentation for MS and 87% showed great interest in an extended and more interconnected electronic documentation of MS patients. Practices specializing in MS in comparison with other neurological practices presented an increased interest in online documentation.

The researchers concluded that physicians and nurses may significantly benefit from electronically assisted documentation and patient management. But interfaces of complex eHealth services for neurological practices and clinics would need to include options for both online and offline data transmission. Also, the ability to connect with pre-existing eHealth structures would need to be assured. 

Although existing MS-specific eHealth services were highly appreciated, the study found that the current level of adoption was below the level of interest expressed in an extended system of electronic documentation of MS patients. The authors stated that the results need to be validated in future studies, and more data is needed regarding the adoption of different types of eHealth solutions and relevant devices. —Amanda Del Signore