B - 120 Participant Satisfaction with Tele-Neuropsychology: the Framingham Heart Study

Abstract Objective Tele-neuropsychological assessments (tele-np) have grown in importance since the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing for ongoing surveillance of underserved remote participant populations when traditional in-person evaluations are not practical, convenient, or possible. However, literature addressing satisfaction and acceptance with tele-np is scarce. This study examines participants’ satisfaction with a unique tele-np protocol in a cohort-based epidemiological study, the Framingham Heart Study (FHS). Methods FHS participants who have completed a tele-np evaluation via HIPAA-compliant Zoom since 2021 were included. Tele-np participants completed the same protocol as in-person evaluations. Record forms and a digital pen to capture drawing tasks and Boston Process Approach variables are mailed with a return label to participants. Participants provided feedback on their experience on four, five-point Likert scale questions (1 = strongly negative, 5 = strongly positive). Results Sixty-three largely college-educated (87.30%) participants, with average age of 74.28 years (SD = 7.82), 47.62% female, representing 21 US states completed a tele-np visit. Average completion time was 78.74 minutes (SD = 10.78). 94.83% reported a positive overall experience (M = 4.47, SD = 0.71) with tele-np protocol. Participants reported positive experiences with the use of video conferencing (M = 4.33, SD = 0.73), shipping and test-related materials (M = 4.52, SD = 0.60), and clarity of instructions (M = 4.53, SD = 0.54). Conclusions Older adults positively relate to a tele-np protocol that allows for robust remote assessment of cognition. Tele-np is a feasible and acceptable mode for large scale neuropsychological data collection in older adults and can minimize attrition due to travel limitations. Continued study of participant feedback is imperative as tele-np is expanded to improve accessibility for underserved and diverse populations.