150 A Mixed Methods Pilot Study of Telemedicine Group Visits for Chronic Migraine in a Safety Net Health System

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Limited specialty care within safety net health systems reduces availability of follow-up appointments for chronic conditions. We evaluated patient acceptability of a 6 month series of telemedicine group medical visits for chronic migraine at a county hospital-based clinic as a potential method to improve access to specialty care in this setting. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We developed and implemented a pilot program of monthly physician-led telemedicine group visits to provide routine follow-up care for adults with chronic migraine. Visits were conducted through the neurology clinic at LAC+USC medical center, a safety net hospital in Los Angeles and included an educational component, peer support, and the opportunity to address individual needs or refill medications. We assessed headache severity (HIT-6) and mood (PHQ-9) through telephone surveys before and 6 months after patients’ first telemedicine group visit and compared timepoints using paired t-tests. Patient acceptability of the group visits was elicited through focus groups and key themes identified using grounded field theory. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Baseline data was available for 18/20 pilot participants. Patients were predominantly female (89%) with mean age of 46 (SD 8.6). Mean HIT-6 was 65/78 reflecting a very severe impact on daily life, and mean PHQ-9 was 8.7 reflecting mild depressive symptoms. There was no statistically significant change in either HIT-6 (mean difference 2.36, p=0.34) or PHQ-9 (mean difference 2.09, p=0.12) after group participation. Key themes from the focus groups included lack of prior exposure to other people with similar headache burden and logistical barriers to care, such as difficulty contacting a provider or extended clinic wait times. Primary patient-reported benefits included more frequent access to a provider and peer support. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Telemedicine group visits for chronic migraine are feasible in a safety net context and were well-received by patients. However, this pilot study did not show a benefit of telemedicine group visits for headache control or mood symptoms.