Understanding Stakeholder Perceptions
The study surveyed 25 adult patients, 144 children's caregivers, and 50 rehabilitation professionals to gauge their perceptions and satisfaction with telerehabilitation during the lockdown. Results indicated a medium-high level of satisfaction among all groups, though experiences varied based on demographics and prior experience with remote media.
Key Findings
- Caregivers of Children Aged 0-3: Reported feeling overwhelmed with remote care but appreciated the help in organizing daily activities.
- Caregivers of Children Aged Over 6: Experienced low satisfaction due to changes in therapy plans, emphasizing the need for continuity.
- Professionals: Those with prior experience in remote care were more likely to view telerehabilitation as supportive and effective.
Improving Telerehabilitation Practices
To enhance your telerehabilitation services, consider the following strategies:
- Maintain Continuity: Ensure that therapy plans remain as consistent as possible to boost caregiver and patient satisfaction.
- Provide Training: Equip both caregivers and professionals with the necessary skills and confidence to handle remote media effectively.
- Support Caregivers: Offer additional resources and support to caregivers, especially those with young children, to alleviate the burden of remote care.
- Customize Treatment Plans: Tailor therapy sessions to meet individual needs, considering the patient's age, condition, and available resources.
Encouraging Further Research
The study highlights the importance of ongoing research to optimize telerehabilitation practices. Practitioners are encouraged to delve deeper into specific areas such as the impact of caregiver training, the effectiveness of various remote media tools, and the long-term outcomes of telerehabilitation.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Continuity of Care During COVID-19 Lockdown: A Survey on Stakeholders' Experience With Telerehabilitation.
