Development and Validation of the Tele-Pulmonary Rehabilitation Acceptance Scale

The Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Telerehabilitation Acceptance Scale (Health Care Professionals' Form)

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the Turkish validity and reliability of the Telerehabilitation Acceptance Scale Health Care Professionals' Form (TRAS-HP). Methods: Health care professionals between the ages of 18 and 65 years were included. TRAS-HP was used to assess study participants' acceptance of telerehabilitation. Turkish translation of the scale was followed by confirmatory and explanatory factor analyses. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were calculated. Results: Of the participants, 158 (65.83%) were female and 82 (34.17%) were male. Explanatory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure explaining 71.87% of the total variation with one item removed. Confirmatory factor analysis determined that the model fit indices (the root mean square error of approximation = 0.080, adjusted goodness of fit index = 0.857, goodness of fit index = 0.899, and chi-square/degrees of freedom = 2.516) were satisfactory. The subdimensions' factor loads ranged from 0.78 to 0.82. After confirmatory and explanatory factor analysis, the 16-item TRAS-HP was reduced to 14 items. Internal consistency (cronbach alpha = 0.947) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.927) were extremely high. Conclusions: With this study, the Turkish validity and reliability of TRAS-HP were demonstrated, and it was revealed that they are a suitable tool for determining the acceptance and awareness of telerehabilitation of health care professionals working in rehabilitation.

A Kano model-based demand analysis and perceived barriers of pulmonary rehabilitation interventions for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in China

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has been recognized to be an effective therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, in China, the application of PR interventions is still less promoted. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to understand COPD patients' intention to receive PR, capture the potential personal, social and environmental barriers preventing their willingness of receiving PR, and eventually identify demanding PR services with the highest priority from patients' point of view.

METHODS

In total 237 COPD patients were recruited from 8 health care facilities in Zhejiang, China. A self-designed questionnaire was applied to investigate patients' intention to participate in PR and potentially associated factors, including personal dimension such as personal awareness, demographic factors, COPD status and health-related literacy/behaviors, as well as social policies and perceived environmental barriers. The demand questionnaire of PR interventions based on the Kano model was further adopted.

RESULTS

Among the 237 COPD patients, 75.1% of COPD patients were willing to participate in PR interventions, while only 62.9% of the investigated patients had heard of PR interventions. Over 90% of patients believed that the cost of PR services and the ratio of medical insurance reimbursement were potential obstacles hindering them from accepting PR services. The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the PR skills of medical staff, knowledge promotion and public education levels of PR in the community, patients' transportation concerns and degree of support from family and friends were significantly associated with willingness of participation in PR interventions. By using the Kano model, the top 9 most-requisite PR services (i.e., one-dimensional qualities) were identified from patients' point of view, which are mainly diet guidance, education interventions, psychological interventions and lower limb exercise interventions. Subgroup analysis also revealed that patients' demographics, such as breathlessness level, age, education and income levels, could influence their choice of priorities for PR services, especially services related to exercise interventions, respiratory muscle training, oxygen therapy and expectoration.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that PR-related knowledge education among patients and their family, as well as providing basic package of PR services with the most-requisite PR items to COPD patients, were considerable approaches to promote PR attendance in the future.

Pulmonary Telerehabilitation for People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Brazil: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study

This study assessed the feasibility of pulmonary telerehabilitation‧s (PTR) acceptability, implementation, practicality, and adaptation for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Brazil. It also explored associations with clinical and socioeconomic features of Brazilians with COPD. This mixed-method study included thirty-one participants with COPD (age 62±10 years; FEV1= 72±14% predicted). Most participants (74.2%) reported good PTR session acceptability on the System Usability Scale and scores of 4.6±0.3 and 4.5±0.6 on a 1-5 Likert-type scale of implementation and practicality, respectively. Participants suggested adaptations for better comfort on the exercise bike and varying exercise modalities. PTR acceptability was associated with participants' younger age (rs=-0.57, p<0.01) and higher education (rs=0.51, p<0.01). PTR is feasible for people with COPD in Brazil regarding acceptability, implementation, practicality, and adaptation. Younger age and higher educational level are associated with greater PTR acceptability.

Healthcare Providers’ Perception and Barriers Concerning the Use of Telehealth Applications in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Telehealth services are widely used in Saudi Arabia. Despite this, neither the use rate nor the attitudes, perceptions, and barriers concerning telehealth applications have been evaluated nationally from the perspective of healthcare providers (HCPs). Aim: This study aims to explore the use rate of telehealth, as well as the attitudes, perceptions, and barriers concerning telehealth use in Saudi Arabia from the perspective of HCPs. Methods and design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted and distributed to all HCPs between 16 November 2021 and 16 March 2022, through an online platform (Survey Monkey). Results: Overall, 1034 HCPs completed the online survey, of which 65.0% (n = 677) were male. Physicians accounted for 22.34%, while nurses and respiratory therapists accounted for 22.34% and 21.47%, respectively. Only 491 HCPs (47%) have used telehealth applications, the majority for less than a year (21.47%) or from one to three years (14.51%). Around 44% of HCPs perceived telehealth as being useful in quality and care delivery. Around 43% of HCPs felt comfortable using telehealth, and 45.45% perceived telehealth as being useful for patients with transportation difficulties. Additionally, 38% believed that telehealth provides a confidential way of protecting patients’ information, and 36% would like to receive more training in telehealth. Speech-language therapists and public health professionals were the highest HCP users (98% and 95%, respectively), while general physicians and dentists were the lowest users (44% and 55%, respectively). Lack of time or a busy schedule was the most common barrier to not using telehealth among all HCPs (38%). Conclusion: The use of telehealth was perceived as being positive as well as valuable and confidential in monitoring and providing care. However, challenges such as the lack of time or a busy schedule impeded the use of telehealth among HCPs in Saudi Arabia.

Determinants of Telerehabilitation Acceptance among Patients Attending Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs in the United States

Background:

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an interdisciplinary intervention designed to improve the physical status and the psychological condition of people with chronic respiratory diseases. To improve patients' participation in PR programs, telerehabilitation has been introduced.

Objective:

This study aimed to identify factors that could influence the intention to use telerehabilitation among patients attending traditional PR programs.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study recruited subjects attending the PR centers in the hospitals of the Indiana State University, United States of America, between January and May 2017. Data were collected using self-administered Tele-Pulmonary Rehabilitation Acceptance Scale (TPRAS). TPRAS had two subscales: perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Behavioral intention (BI) was the dependent variable, and all responses were dichotomized into positive and negative intention to use. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to assess the influence of variables on the intention to use telerehabilitation.

Results:

A total of 134 respondents were included in this study, of which 61.2% indicated positive intention to use telerehabilitation. Perceived usefulness was a significant predictor of the positive intentions to use of telerehabilitation. Duration of respiratory disease was negatively associated with the use of telerehabilitation.

Conclusion:

Perceived usefulness was a significant predictor of using telerehabilitation. The findings of this study may be useful for health-care organizations in improving the adoption of telerehabilitation or in its implementation. Future telerehabilitation acceptance studies could explore the effects of additional factors including computer literacy and culture on the intention to use telerehabilitation.

Health Care Practitioners' Determinants of Telerehabilitation Acceptance

Background:

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary patient-tailored intervention that aims to improve the physical and psychological condition of people with chronic respiratory diseases. Providing pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) services to the growing population of patients is challenging due to shortages in health care practitioners and pulmonary rehabilitation programs. Telerehabilitation has the potential to address this shortage in practitioners and PR programs as well as improve patients' participation and adherence. This study's purpose was to identify and evaluate the influences of intention of health care practitioners to use telerehabilitation.

Methods:

Data were collected through a self-administered Internet-based survey.

Results:

Surveys were completed by 222 health care practitioners working in pulmonary rehabilitation with 79% having a positive intention to use telerehabilitation. Specifically, perceived usefulness was a significant individual predictor of positive intentions to use telerehabilitation.

Conclusion:

Perceived usefulness may be an important factor associated with health care providers' intent to use telerehabilitation for pulmonary rehabilitation.