Utility of telehealth for multidisciplinary assessment and management of patients with facial nerve palsy

Background: The Sydney Facial Nerve Service is a multidisciplinary team that provides management of patients with facial nerve disorders, historically as an in-person format. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in a shift to a virtual format due to infection control precautions. This study aims to evaluate the acceptability of a telehealth format for patients and clinicians in the multidisciplinary care of facial nerve palsy. Methods: The questionnaires were distributed either on email or mail out. Follow up telephone calls were made to non-responders. Parallel, but specific questions were designed for both patients and clinicians who have attended the clinic. Results: 40/110 patients (36.4%) and 11/11 clinicians completed questionnaires. Seventeen patients (42.5%) attended virtually, 14 (35.0%) attended in person, and nine (22.5%) attended both formats. All patients were equally satisfied with the assessment and overall experience with the clinic (P=0.900). Most patients (72.5%, 29/40) preferred in-person attendance, with preferences similar for patients from greater Sydney (80.8%) and regional/rural NSW (85.7%). Significantly more patients from interstate (57.1%) preferred a virtual format (P=0.027). Patients who required to travel >6 hours preferred virtual attendance but was not significant (P=0.053). Clinicians expressed good/excellent overall satisfaction with virtual attendance. There was a significant preference amongst the clinicians (9 of 11) for a hybrid format (P=0.003). Conclusions: Patients and clinicians were satisfied with the virtual format for assessment of facial nerve palsy. Most patients expressed preference to an in-person format whilst clinicians preferred a hybrid model. Given the high rates of satisfaction and convenience recorded, we continue to utilise a hybrid format.