Clinicians' Perspectives of a Novel Home-Based Multidisciplinary Telehealth Service for Patients with Chronic Spinal Pain

• Published in: International journal of telerehabilitation Vol. 10; no. 2; pp. 81 - 88
• Main Authors: Cottrell, Michelle A, Hill, Anne J, O'Leary, Shaun P, Raymer, Maree E, Russell, Trevor G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States University Library System, University of Pittsburgh 2018
• Subjects: Back pain; Clinical Applications; Home health care; Telemedicine; Post-implementation; Clinician perspective; Telerehabilitation; Telehealth; Musculoskeletal
• ISSN: 1945-2020; 1945-2020
• DOI: 10.5195/ijt.2018.6249

Chronic spinal pain conditions can often be successfully managed by a non-surgical, multidisciplinary approach, however many individuals are unable to access such specialised services within their local community. A possible solution may be the delivery of care via telerehabilitation. This study aimed to evaluate clinicians' perspectives on providing clinical care via telerehabilitation during the early implementation of a novel spinal telerehabilitation service. Eight clinicians' were recruited, completing surveys at four separate time points. Confidence in providing treatment via telerehabilitation significantly improved with time (χ (3)=16.22, p=0.001). Clinicians became significantly more accepting of telerehabilitation being a time- (χ (3)=11.237, p=0.011), and cost-effective (χ (3)=9.466, p=0.024) platform in which they could deliver care. Overall satisfaction was high, with technology becoming easier to use (p=0.026) and ability to establish rapport significantly improved with experience (p=0.043). Understanding clinicians' perspectives throughout the early implementation phase of a new telerehabilitation service is a critical component in determining long-term sustainability.