Clinician Perceptions of the Negative Impact of Telehealth Services in the Management of Drug-Induced Movement Disorders and Opportunities for Quality Improvement: A 2021 Internet-Based Survey

PURPOSE: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a drug-induced movement disorder (DIMD) seen in patients taking dopamine-receptor blocking agents (DRBAs). Clinicians should regularly monitor patients with or at risk of developing DIMDs; however, telehealth visits during the COVID-19 pandemic presented several significant challenges related to screening and care of these patients. In this observational survey study, respondents compared in-person with video/telephone visits to determine the impact on the evaluation, diagnosis, and monitoring of patients with DIMDs. METHODS: The online survey was conducted (May 14–June 21, 2021) with qualified clinicians who prescribed a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 inhibitor or benztropine for DIMDs in the past 6 months, spent ≤70% of their professional time in the clinic, and conducted telehealth visits with ≥15% of their patients between December 2020 and January 2021. The questionnaire probed clinicians about their ability to evaluate, diagnose and monitor (hereinafter referred to as manage) patients with DIMDs via telehealth. RESULTS: Survey respondents included 277 clinicians from psychiatry (n = 168) and neurology (n = 109) practices. Certain signs and symptoms (visual cues) used for diagnosis of DIMDs were not observable through telehealth and evaluation was comparatively more difficult with phone visits than video visits. Patients without caregivers and lower-functioning patients were at higher risk of missed diagnosis of DIMDs and were also difficult to monitor via telehealth. Limited access to computers or telephones and patients living alone were among the top socioeconomic barriers limiting clinicians’ ability to diagnose DIMDs. Patients without a regular caregiver were also more difficult for clinicians to evaluate and monitor adequately. Further, most clinicians received no training related to evaluation of DIMDs via telehealth or engaging caregivers as health care partners. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights specific limitations and challenges and provides considerations to help clinicians better manage DIMDs in the context of telehealth services.