PTQualitativeJMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies2018

The Use of Telerehabilitation Technologies for Cardiac Patients to Improve Rehabilitation Activities and Unify Organizations: Qualitative Study.

Birthe Dinesen, Helle Spindler

PMID 30455168

WHAT IT FOUND

Professionals described a shared cardiac telerehabilitation plan as tying hospital and community care together.

Regular meetings and common patient data were described as supporting a joint team, and patients were seen as active partners.

Key findings

01Health care professionals described the shared e-rehabilitation plan as enabling them to see the same patient data and make decisions together across organizations.

02Regular meetings and the digital platform were described as building a joint telerehabilitation community of practice with stronger relationships and more knowledge sharing.

03Municipal health care professionals described cardiac patients as collaborators rather than passive clients.

STILL TO COME

How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs

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What it does not show

The study is a case study of one program, so its findings may not apply to other health systems. The data are professionals' descriptions of cooperation and workflow, not measured patient recovery. The authors say the Danish public health care setting may limit transfer to other contexts. The authors say a longitudinal study or larger trial would be needed to strengthen the findings.

Declared interests

The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

The easy way to misread this

Do not read this as evidence that cardiac telerehabilitation improves patient outcomes. The study reports professionals' experiences in a single Danish program and does not measure patient recovery.

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