Applications and impact of telemedicine for persons with epilepsy: a scoping review

Abstract

Telemedicine is emerging as a promising strategy to overcome geographical and specialist access constraints in epilepsy care. This scoping review, conducted by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Telemedicine Task Force, aimed to map the existing evidence on the applications, effectiveness, and challenges of telemedicine in epilepsy management. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, conducted up to May 2025 without language restrictions, identified original studies evaluating telemedicine for epilepsy diagnosis, management, or follow-up. Data were extracted and synthesized narratively. Of the 201 included studies, approximately 70% originated from high-income settings. Evidence demonstrated diagnostic accuracy ranging from 75% to 97%, cost savings of about US$30 per consultation, and high satisfaction levels among patients (87-95%) and physicians (74-94%). Telemedicine also reduced no-shows by 45%, ensuring continuity of care during healthcare disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, telemedicine is a feasible adjunct to conventional epilepsy care, enhancing access, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. To substantiate its role in diverse settings, well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate long-term outcomes, equity, and sustainability.