The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation in healthcare, including auditory rehabilitation for cochlear implant (CI) users. A recent study titled "Teletherapie nach Cochleaimplantation in der COVID-19-Pandemie" provides valuable insights into the efficacy and challenges of teletherapy in this context.
The study involved 42 adult CI users who participated in weekly video therapy sessions over five weeks. Both patients and therapists assessed the technical process and therapeutic content after each session, using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and the Skala Therapeutische Allianz Revised (STA-R). The results were promising, indicating high usability and a strong therapeutic alliance, despite the lack of face-to-face interaction.
Key Findings
- High Usability: Both patients and therapists rated the usability of the teletherapy platform highly (87.9 vs. 93.0).
- Therapeutic Alliance: The relationship between patients and therapists remained strong, with scores of 87.8% for patients and 84.8% for therapists.
- Cost and Time Efficiency: Patients experienced significant savings in time and costs, although rehabilitation centers faced higher initial costs due to longer preparation times.
- Technical Issues: Over 75% of initial sessions encountered technical problems, but these issues did not persist in subsequent sessions.
Implications for Practitioners
Practitioners can leverage these findings to improve their teletherapy services:
- Training and Preparation: Invest time in training both therapists and patients on the technical aspects of teletherapy to minimize initial disruptions.
- Patient-Centered Approach: Tailor therapy sessions to individual patient needs, ensuring that therapeutic goals are met effectively.
- Continuous Evaluation: Regularly assess the usability and therapeutic alliance to make necessary adjustments and maintain high-quality care.
Further research is needed to explore the long-term effectiveness of teletherapy and its impact on the therapist-patient relationship. As digital healthcare continues to evolve, teletherapy could become a permanent fixture in auditory rehabilitation.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Teletherapie nach Cochleaimplantation in der COVID-19-Pandemie.
