Telemedicine application to headache: a critical review

Abstract

Background Migraine affects more than a billion people all over the world and requires critical employment of healthcare resources. Telemedicine could be a reasonable tool to manage people suffering from headaches, and it received a big push from the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective This review aims to propose a practical approach for the virtual management of these patients. Methods To do this, we conducted a literature search, including 32 articles relevant to the topic treated in this review. Results The most challenging step in telemedicine applied to practical neurology remains the clinical assessment, but through a careful headache history and a recently proposed entirely virtual neurological assessment, this hitch can be easily overcome. Electronic diary compilations and virtual administration of disability-measuring scales, conversely, are the key features of effective long-term follow-up although we do not have apps that met the criteria of scientific reliability. Furthermore, tele-rehabilitation seems to be effective and has demonstrated to be a solution to alternatively treat chronic patients at home, and can be considered part of the remote management of headache patients. Moreover, virtual management of headaches finds an application in specific communities of patients, as pediatric patients and for rural communities of low- and middle-income countries suffer from health disparities, with inadequate resources and knowledge gaps. Conclusion Telemedicine could be promising for patients with no regular or convenient access to headache specialists and seems to be a priority in managing migraine patients to avoid non-urgent hospitalizations

Nurses’ experience of using video consultation in a digital care setting and its impact on their workflow and communication

“…The results have shown that the use of telemedicine in health care is crucial and it has the potential to improve the decision-making process and management of numerous chronic diseases. [ 20 – 24 ].…”

Economic inequalities and temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review with meta‐analysis

“…In this regard, telemedicine has the potential to improve access to healthcare services for individuals with low economic income, particularly in areas where there is a shortage of healthcare providers or where transportation to healthcare facilities is difficult. [40][41][42] By allowing patients to communicate with healthcare providers remotely, telemedicine can reduce the cost and time burden associated with in-person healthcare visits. This may increase the likelihood that individuals with low income seek and receive timely healthcare services, including for the management of temporomandibular disorders.…”

Children oral health and parents education status: a cross sectional study

“…The persistence of oral health inequalities demands preventive efforts toward communities at higher risk, through policies that are both proportionate (targeting the least advantaged) and universal (accessible to all). In this direction, the increasing cost and inequitable access to quality healthcare, coupled with the merger of the information technology [39] and health service sectors, has given rise to the modern field of telemedicine [40,41]. The use of telecommunications technology to exchange dental information between distant locations in order to provide dental care or consultation is termed 'teledentistry' .…”