Telehealth for consultation and shoulder rehabilitation: a preliminary study on the perspectives of 30 patients during the COVID-19 lockdown
- Author:
Dipit SAHU
1
;
Vaibhavi RATHOD
;
Ashish PHADNIS
;
Samarjit S. BANSAL
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow 2021;24(3):156-165
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:This study aimed to determine: (1) the perspectives of the patient cohort that underwent telehealth consultation and shoulderrehabilitation during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the differences in the patients’ perspectives with the two different telehealth video applications (apps) used in the study.
Methods:This is a prospective study carried out during the COVID lockdown period of April to July 2020. Thirty consecutive patientsfrom the orthopedics department of a tertiary institute in India underwent their first-ever session of a video app-based (Zoom orWhatsApp) telehealth consultation with shoulder rehabilitation exercises on a handheld mobile, tablet, or laptop device. After the virtualconsultation, the patients were sent a validated telehealth usability questionnaire (TUQ) to evaluate their perspectives. Scores obtained fromthe TUQ were the primary outcome measure.
Results:The study was completed by 30 patients (16 men and 14 women) with an average age of 56 years (range, 20–77 years). The patientswho contacted us during the lockdown period with either a stiff shoulder or a conservatively treated shoulder fracture were included in thestudy. The average TUQ score was 13.6 (median, 14.5; range, 6–21) out of a maximum of 21 points. Eighty percent of the patients were satisfied and found the telehealth service useful. Use of the Zoom app scored significantly higher (median, 17; average, 15.6) than theWhatsApp app (median, 8.5; average, 9.6) (p=0.004).
Conclusions:Patients who received telehealth consultation and shoulder rehabilitation were overall satisfied. Telehealth apps with advanced video calling features such as Zoom should be preferred for higher patient satisfaction.
