Pilot Study to Assess the Feasibility of a Mobile Unit for Remote Cognitive Screening of Isolated Elderly in Rural Areas

Radia Zeghari, Rachid Guerchouche, Minh Tran Duc, François Bremond, Maria Pascale Lemoine, Vincent Bultingaire, Kai Langel, Zeger De Groote, Francis Kuhn, Emmanuelle Martin, Philippe Robert and Alexandra König
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Radia Zeghari: Cognitive Behavior Technology (CoBTeK) Lab., FRIS-Université Côte d’Azur, 06100 Nice, France
Rachid Guerchouche: Cognitive Behavior Technology (CoBTeK) Lab., FRIS-Université Côte d’Azur, 06100 Nice, France
Minh Tran Duc: Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (INRIA), 06902 Valbonne, France
François Bremond: Cognitive Behavior Technology (CoBTeK) Lab., FRIS-Université Côte d’Azur, 06100 Nice, France
Maria Pascale Lemoine: Centre Hospitalier Digne-les-Bains, 04995 Digne-Les-Bains, France
Vincent Bultingaire: Centre Hospitalier Digne-les-Bains, 04995 Digne-Les-Bains, France
Kai Langel: Janssen Clinical Innovation, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
Zeger De Groote: Modis, 2550 Kontich, Belgium
Francis Kuhn: Fédération d’Aide à Domicile en Milieu Rural (ADMR) des Alpes-de-Hautes-Provences, 04995 Digne-Les-Bains, France
Emmanuelle Martin: Fédération d’Aide à Domicile en Milieu Rural (ADMR) des Alpes-de-Hautes-Provences, 04995 Digne-Les-Bains, France
Philippe Robert: Cognitive Behavior Technology (CoBTeK) Lab., FRIS-Université Côte d’Azur, 06100 Nice, France
Alexandra König: Cognitive Behavior Technology (CoBTeK) Lab., FRIS-Université Côte d’Azur, 06100 Nice, France

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: Background: Given the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, now more than ever, remote solutions for assessing and monitoring individuals with cognitive impairment are urgently needed. Older adults in particular, living in isolated rural areas or so-called ‘medical deserts’, are facing major difficulties in getting access to diagnosis and care. Telemedical approaches to assessments are promising and seem well accepted, reducing the burden of bringing patients to specialized clinics. However, many older adults are not yet adequately equipped to allow for proper implementation of this technology. A potential solution could be a mobile unit in the form of a van, equipped with the telemedical system which comes to the patients’ home. The aim of this proof-of-concept study is to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of such mobile unit settings for remote cognitive testing. Methods and analysis: eight participants (aged between 69 and 86 years old) from the city of Digne-Les-Bains volunteered for this study. A basic neuropsychological assessment, including a short clinical interview, is administered in two conditions, by telemedicine in a mobile clinic (equipped van) at a participants’ home and face to face in a specialized clinic. The administration procedure order is randomized, and the results are compared with each other. Acceptability and user experience are assessed among participants and clinicians in a qualitative and quantitative manner. Measurements of stress indicators were collected for comparison. Results: The analysis revealed no significant differences in test results between the two administration procedures. Participants were, overall, very satisfied with the mobile clinic experience and found the use of the telemedical system relatively easy. Conclusion: A mobile unit equipped with a telemedical service could represent a solution for remote cognitive testing overcoming barriers in rural areas to access specialized diagnosis and care.

Keywords: telemedicine; cognitive assessment; videoconference; dementia; screening; mobile unit (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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