title: Feasibility of Virtual Research Visits in Fox Trial Finder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fox Trial Finder is an online registry for individuals with and without Parkinson disease (PD) interested in participating in PD research. However, distance or disability could prevent such individuals from participating in traditional, clinic-based research at major centers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Use videoconferencing to connect participants to specialists to: (1) demonstrate feasibility of virtual research visits within this population (2) collect phenotypic data of the participants, (3) validate self-reported diagnosis, and (4) gauge interest in virtual research visits.
  
  
  METHODS
  We solicited volunteers throughout the United States through Fox Trial Finder. Interested individuals with PD provided consent, were given web cameras if needed, completed baseline surveys, and downloaded videoconferencing software remotely. Participants had a test connection and assessment appointment which included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), then a virtual research visit with a neurologist who reviewed their history and assessed their PD using a modified Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. Neurologists assessed PD diagnosis and symptomatology. Physicians and participants were surveyed about their experience.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 204 individuals who consented, 166 (81% ) individuals from 39 states completed all visits. The mean age was 62 and mean disease duration was 8.0 years. Mean MoCA score was 26.5, and mean modified MDS-UPDRS motor score was 22.8 (out of a possible 124). Neurologists judged PD as the most likely diagnosis in 97% of cases. Overall satisfaction with the visits was 79% (satisfied or very satisfied) among neurologists and 93% among participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Through virtual research visits, neurologists engaged, characterized, and validated self-reported diagnosis in individuals with PD over a broad geography. This model may facilitate future research participation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States.|CHET, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States.
authors.forename: E Ray
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Dorsey
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rizzieri
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grischkan
authors.affiliation: CHET, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Meredith A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Achey
authors.affiliation: The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson's Research, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sherer
authors.affiliation: The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson's Research, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Sohini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.affiliation: The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson's Research, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meunier
authors.affiliation: The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson's Research, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cappelletti
authors.affiliation: The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson's Research, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rocker
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Irene H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.affiliation: University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Stacy H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Biemiller
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States.|CHET, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Biglan
mesh_terms: D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012042:Registries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States; D049269:Videoconferencing
keywords: Parkinson disease; telemedicine