Real-time video telerehabilitation shows comparable satisfaction and similar or better attendance and adherence compared with in-person physiotherapy: a systematic review

• Published in: Journal of physiotherapy Vol. 70; no. 3; pp. 181 - 192
• Main Authors: Simmich, Joshua, Ross, Megan H, Russell, Trevor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-07-2024
• Subjects: Adherence; Compliance; Physical therapy; Satisfaction; Systematic review; Telehealth; Adherence; Systematic review; Telehealth; Compliance; Physical therapy; Satisfaction
• ISSN: 1836-9553; 1836-9561; 1836-9561
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2024.06.001

How does physiotherapy delivered by real-time, video-based telerehabilitation compare with in-person delivery for the outcomes of attendance, adherence and satisfaction?
Systematic review of randomised control trials indexed in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane and PEDro on 12 March 2024.
Adults aged > 18 years.
Physiotherapy delivered via real-time video telerehabilitation.
Attendance, adherence and satisfaction.
Eight studies were included for attendance (n = 1,110), nine studies for adherence (n = 1,190) and 12 studies for satisfaction (n = 1,247). Telerehabilitation resulted in attendance at treatment sessions that was 8% higher (95% CI −1 to 18) and adherence to exercise programs that was 9% higher (95% CI 2 to 16) when compared with in-person physiotherapy. Satisfaction was similar with both modes of delivery (SMD 0.03 in favour of telerehabilitation, 95% CI −0.23 to 0.28). The level of certainty assessed by GRADE ranged from very low to low, primarily due to inconsistency and high risk of bias.
Attendance at appointments among participants assigned to telerehabilitation was somewhere between similar to and considerably higher than among control participants. Adherence to self-management with telerehabilitation was better than with in-person delivery, although with some uncertainty about the magnitude of the effect. Reported satisfaction levels were similar between the two modes of treatment delivery. Given the significance of attendance, adherence and satisfaction for successful outcomes, telerehabilitation offers a valuable alternative mode for physiotherapy delivery.
Real-time telerehabilitation has potentially favourable effects on attendance at treatment appointments and adherence to exercise programs, with similar satisfaction when compared with traditional in-person physiotherapy.
PROSPERO CRD42022329906