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Physical Therapists’ Perceptions of Telephone‐ and Internet Video–Mediated Service Models for Exercise Management of People With Osteoarthritis
Author(s) -
Lawford Belinda J.,
Bennell Kim L.,
Kasza Jessica,
Hinman Rana S.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
arthritis care and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.032
H-Index - 163
eISSN - 2151-4658
pISSN - 2151-464X
DOI - 10.1002/acr.23260
Subject(s) - telerehabilitation , the internet , medicine , physical therapy , service (business) , videoconferencing , perception , osteoarthritis , telephone interview , telemedicine , psychology , health care , multimedia , alternative medicine , computer science , business , social science , pathology , neuroscience , sociology , world wide web , economics , economic growth , marketing
Objective To investigate physical therapists’ perceptions of, and willingness to use, telephone‐ and internet‐mediated service models for exercise therapy for people with knee and/or hip osteoarthritis. Methods This study used an internet‐based survey of Australian physical therapists, comprising 3 sections: 1 on demographic information and 2 with 16 positively framed perception statements about delivering exercise via telephone and video over the internet, for people with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis. Levels of agreement with each statement were evaluated. Logistic regression models were used to determine therapist characteristics influencing interest in delivering telerehabilitation. Results A total of 217 therapists spanning metropolitan, regional, rural, and remote Australia completed the survey. For telephone‐delivered care, there was consensus agreement that it would not violate patient privacy (81% agreed/strongly agreed) and would save patient's time (76%), but there was less than majority agreement for 10 statements. There was consensus agreement that video‐delivered care would save a patient's time (82%), be convenient for patients (80%), and not violate patient privacy (75%). Most agreed with all other perception statements about video‐delivered care, except for liking no physical contact (14%). Low confidence using internet video technologies, and inexperience with telerehabilitation, were significantly associated with reduced interest in delivering telephone and/or video‐based services. Conclusion Physical therapists agree that telerehabilitation offers time‐saving and privacy advantages for people with osteoarthritis and perceive video‐delivered care more favorably than telephone‐delivered services. However, most do not like the lack of physical contact with either service model. These findings may inform the implementation of telerehabilitation osteoarthritis services and the training needs of clinicians involved in delivering care.