Exploring attitudes of people with chronic health conditions towards the use of group-based telerehabilitation: A qualitative study.

The study included only 18 participants, and the number contacted is unknown, so it cannot show how common these views are among people with chronic conditions. Participants were recruited through patient advocacy groups and clinical contacts, so they may have been more proactive in their healthcare and more positive about telerehabilitation. All focus groups were held by videoconference, which may have excluded people with limited technology access or comfort, even though telephone participation was offered. The sample came from Ireland, so attitudes may not represent other countries or health systems. The study did not analyse themes separately for cardiorespiratory, neurological and musculoskeletal groups, and did not reach saturation within each subgroup. It reports attitudes and preferences, not clinical outcomes, so it does not show whether telerehabilitation works.

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. Funding: CBW is funded by an Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship and a Plassey Campus Life Services Scholarship. RSH is supported by a National Health & Medical Research Council Senior Research Fellowship.

Do not read this as evidence that telerehabilitation improves chronic condition outcomes. It reports attitudes from 18 participants, not patient outcomes, and the sample was recruited through patient advocacy groups and clinical contacts, so participants may have been more proactive and comfortable with technology.