Telemedicine for Children With Cerebral Palsy Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Australian Cohort Study.

Abstract

Objective: To examine telemedicine use in children with cerebral palsy before, during and since the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 1162 children with cerebral palsy (40.3% female, birth years 2005-2017), attending specialist outpatient clinics at 2 pediatric hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. We categorized outpatient visits from January 2018 to May 2023 as in-person or telemedicine and compared usage pre-, during, and post-COVID-19 periods. Neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and geographical remoteness were defined by residential postcode. Results: Of 48 896 outpatient encounters, 11 929 (24.4%) used telemedicine. Telemedicine rates increased during COVID-19 (20.2 per 100 persons/month) and declined post-COVID-19 (15.2 per 100 persons/month, P < .001). Neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with higher median outpatient and telemedicine encounter rates. Regional/remote children had lower median outpatient and telemedicine rates. Conclusion: Telemedicine use declined since lifting of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Further support will be required to sustain rates and learn from pandemic experiences.