Telerehabilitation Needs: A Bidirectional Survey of Health Professionals and Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury in South Korea

TELEMEDICINE and e-HEALTH, 2012 · DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2011.0275 · Published: November 1, 2012

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Telehealth & Digital Health

Simple Explanation

This study explores the potential of telerehabilitation to address the unmet medical needs of individuals with disabilities in South Korea, focusing on those with spinal cord injuries. It involves surveys of both health professionals and individuals with spinal cord injury to understand their awareness, understanding, value, needs, and desirability of telerehabilitation services. The surveys aimed to gather information about current, supplementary, and future rehabilitative interventions. The study sought to identify the types of telerehabilitation services that are most desired and needed by individuals with spinal cord injuries and to understand the perspectives of health professionals on implementing such services. The research also considered the potential risks and challenges associated with telerehabilitation, such as legal conflicts, medical malpractice, and financial burdens, as identified by health professionals. Overall, the study aimed to assess the feasibility and desirability of telerehabilitation as a means to improve access to medical care and rehabilitation services for individuals with spinal cord injuries in South Korea.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

36 health professionals and 57 individuals with spinal cord injury

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Individuals with spinal cord injuries showed great interest in telerehabilitation services, particularly those addressing unmet medical needs related to health monitoring, sustaining health, rehabilitation interventions, and independence in activities of daily living.
2
Notable differences were observed between health professionals and individuals with spinal cord injury regarding awareness, desirability, preferences for rehabilitation services, and perspectives on telerehabilitation expenses.
3
Health professionals identified potential risks of telerehabilitation, including lawful conflicts in medical responsibility, the possibility of medical malpractice, and financial burdens.

Research Summary

The study assessed the awareness, understanding, value, needs, and desirability of telerehabilitation among health professionals and individuals with spinal cord injury in South Korea to resolve issues regarding unmet medical needs. The survey included current, supplementary, and future services of rehabilitative interventions. Survey responses indicated significant interest in telerehabilitation services among individuals with spinal cord injury, especially for health monitoring, sustaining health, rehabilitation interventions, and independence of activities of daily living. The study identified differences between the two groups regarding awareness, desirability, order of preference in rehabilitation service, and telerehabilitation expenses, while also highlighting telerehabilitation's role as a bridge to traditional clinical service delivery.

Practical Implications

Service Development

Telerehabilitation services should be developed to address the specific needs of individuals with spinal cord injuries, focusing on health monitoring, rehabilitation interventions, and promoting independence.

Cost Considerations

Strategies are needed to address the differing perspectives of patients and health professionals regarding the cost of telerehabilitation services to ensure accessibility and affordability.

Risk Management

Legal and ethical guidelines are required to mitigate potential risks associated with telerehabilitation, such as medical malpractice and conflicts in medical responsibility.

Study Limitations

1
The respondents are not entirely representative of the spinal cord injury population in South Korea.
2
Needs and issues of patient groups with disabilities other than spinal cord injury were collected from the survey of health professionals.
3
The study acknowledges the need for further research, including a pilot assessment and survey extension to groups with other disabilities.

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