A Multidisciplinary Telerehabilitation for Stroke Patients

Feasibility of Multidisciplinary Telerehabilitation in Patients With Stroke - a Pilot Study

Objective: Evaluate the feasibility of a multidisciplinary telerehabilitation for chronic stroke patients.

Design: Chronic stroke patients eligible for multidisciplinary rehabilitation funded by the Social Insurance Institution were enrolled between September 2017 and March 2018 in a consecutive basis to receive a mixed program of inpatient rehabilitation and telerehabilitation in their homes or a traditional inpatient rehabilitation only.

Intervention: A rehabilitation course with a 3-day inpatient stay followed by an 8-week telerehabilitation period completed by 2-day evaluation stay in a rehab center. The control group received conventional multidisciplinary rehabilitation for two weeks in an inpatient setting.

Outcome and measures: Change in the Finnish version of Functional Status Questionnaire (FSQFin), the World Health Organization Quality of Life - Short version (WHOQOL-Bref), the Barthel Index, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI21), and the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) and a patient satisfaction questionnaire.

Inclusion Criteria:

• chronic stroke (6 months or more) patient living in home
• eligible to receive rehabilitation funded by the Social Insurance Institution (meets the criteria of chronic disability and need for rehabilitation)
• for intervention group: capable to use a personal computer and telecommunication

Exclusion Criteria:

• no access or capability to use a personal computer
• significant problems in hearing, seeing or understanding information related to the intervention