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 Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
126
PVA - Zentrum für ambulante Rehabilitation Graz
Graz, Styria, Austria
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.
Time frame: 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.
Time frame: 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.
Time frame: April 2021 - May 2022
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