Perceptions of Telemedicine Among Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Patients and Healthcare Providers.
Gabrielle Gilmer, Gwendolyn Sowa
PMID 40111042WHAT IT FOUND
Most PM&R patients and providers want to keep using telemedicine, but they disagree on its quality.
Providers overwhelmingly felt physical exams were inferior over video, while patients were more comfortable with remote care if they lacked cars or had lower incomes.
Key findings
01Providers overwhelmingly believed physical examinations were better in person, whereas patients were more likely than providers to view the two formats as equivalent for exams.
02Patients with lower income or who did not own a car reported being more comfortable with telemedicine than in-person visits.
03The vast majority of providers intended to continue using telemedicine even if insurance reimbursement returned to pre-pandemic levels.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The survey instrument was designed by the authors and was not validated. The sample was drawn from a single urban academic medical center with robust public transportation, which may not reflect rural or community settings. The patient sample was largely homogeneous, consisting mostly of white, cis-gender women who were already familiar with technology. The sample size was relatively small (59 patients, 43 providers). All participants were recruited electronically, which biases the sample toward those with digital literacy and access.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that patient satisfaction with telemedicine equates to clinical equivalence. While patients found it convenient, providers overwhelmingly believed physical exams were inferior over video. This gap suggests that while telemedicine is acceptable to patients, it may not be suitable for all diagnostic needs, particularly those requiring hands-on assessment.