Abstract

The use of telemedicine may be a great opportunity for OSA management. Since the propensity of patients has not yet been analysed, we performed a survey that involved 255 patients (95 F). The regular internet use was inversely associated with age: 98.4% in <50 years, 90.3% in 50-70 years; 75% >70 years (p<0.0001). A similar association was found with education level:82.4% in the primary;95.3% in secondary, and 100% in the highest level (p<0.001). The term Telemedicine was known only by 48.6% of the sample, more frequently in middle and old-age subjects (respectively 52.2 and 50%) in comparison to younger (39.1%), and more frequently by those ones with higher education levels (33.3, 53.2 and 85.3% from lower to a higher level;p<0.0001). Regarding teleconsultation, 13.7% were absolutely against it (17.5% of low level of education), 51.7% were in favour, while the remaining, though in favour, needed specific aid. Only 7.8% of patients said they were absolutely unable, and 2.7% said they had no chance of being helped. Similar answers were reported about the possibility of telemonitoring. Of interest, 67.4% of patients declared the preference for multiple purposes telemonitoring, not only limited to the PAP use, while 15.7% of patients would refuse any type of telemedicine for privacy issues, and 7.5% reported fears about the risk of driving license. The great majority of patients (90.8%) believed that telemedicine services should be dispensed by the NHS, and almost all believed that the costs should be entirely (60.3%) or partially (34.4%) covered by NHS.Finally, despite a good propensity for telemedicine, there are potential limitations related to costs and the level of technological skill.