Evaluation of Telerehabilitation Following Inpatient or Outpatient Rehabilitation Phase II

Evaluation Der Telerehabilitation im Anschluss an Eine stationäre Oder Ambulante Rehabilitation Phase II - Pilotprojekt [Evaluation of Telerehabilitation Following Inpatient or Outpatient Rehabilitation Phase II - Pilot Project]

Telerehabilitation is implemented in the Pensionsversicherungsanstalt (PVA) as an independent rehabilitation offer following a rehabilitation phase II. This offer primarily includes physiotherapeutic training units in group settings and in individual counselling, as well as health-related educational sessions and doctor's consultations via video conferencing, initially for rehabilitation patients with diseases of the musculoskeletal system or oncological diseases. The first stage of the implementation process was evaluated with a focus on acceptance, usability and feasibility from the perspective of patients and treatment team.

The evaluation was based on a convergent mixed methods design (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2017) to draw on the strengths of qualitative and quantitative research approaches (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). Qualitative and quantitative data were generated in parallel and treated equally. The perspective of the patients (N = 86) was collected through online questionnaires and in-depth telephone interviews (N = 22) and that of the treatment team through a questionnaire survey (N = 32) and focus group interviews (N = 24). The administrative team (N = 8) was asked for their assessment in a focus group interview. Technical difficulties in the implementation of telerehabilitation were documented by the treatment team. The consolidation of these multi-perspective results took place at the level of interpretation.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Oncology

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 126

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Austria
  • Styria
    • Graz, Styria, Austria, 8020
      • PVA - Zentrum für ambulante Rehabilitation Graz

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients who have completed rehabilitation phase II and have been assessed by their doctor as suitable for telerehabilitation. Involved treatment team and administrative team.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients who have completed rehabilitation (phase II) with the indications:

• musculoskeletal diseases
• oncology.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Failure to obtain the declaration of consent
• Lack of the required technical aids (mobile phone, tablet or PC)
• Lack of the technical skills to operate the app and thus to participate in telerehabilitation.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Other
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Usability of the telerehabilitation	The patients' perspective was collected with a self-developed online questionnaire (N = 86) and in-depth telephone interviews (N = 22). The questionnaires were analysed descriptively. The telephone interviews were protocolled and subsequently coded and categorised. The perspective of the treatment team was collected with a self-developed questionnaire (N = 32) and focus group interviews (N = 24). In addition, the administrative team (N = 8) was asked for their assessments in a focus group interview. The questionnaires were analysed descriptively. The focus group interview was recorded and subsequently coded and categorised.	April 2021 - May 2022
Feasibility of the telerehabilitation	Technical difficulties concerning the video calls were continuously documented by the treatment team. The data were analysed descriptively.	April 2021 - May 2022
Acceptance of the telerehabilitation	The patients' perspective was collected with a self-developed online questionnaire (N = 86) and in-depth telephone interviews (N = 22). The questionnaires were analysed descriptively. The telephone interviews were protocolled and subsequently coded and categorised. The perspective of the treatment team was collected with a self-developed questionnaire (N = 32) and focus group interviews (N = 24). The questionnaires were analysed descriptively. The focus group interviews were recorded and subsequently coded and categorised.	April 2021 - May 2022

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Pensionsversicherungsanstalt
• Investigators: Study Chair: David Felder, Mag., Pensionsversicherungsanstalt

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 8, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 31, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): June 30, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 5, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 5, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): August 9, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 12, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 9, 2022
• Last Verified: July 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Evaluation; Telerehabilitation; Usability
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: 0002 Evaluation Telereha

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No