Dataset Information

Physiotherapists and patients report positive experiences overall with telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Question

What were the experiences of physiotherapists and patients who consulted via videoconference during the COVID-19 pandemic and how was it implemented?

Design

Mixed methods study with cross-sectional national online surveys and qualitative analysis of free-text responses.

Participants

A total of 207 physiotherapists in private practice or community settings and 401 patients aged ≥ 18 years who consulted (individual and/or group) via videoconference from April to November 2020.

Methods

Separate customised online surveys were developed for physiotherapists and patients. Data were collected regarding the implementation of videoconferencing (cost, software used) and experience with videoconferencing (perceived effectiveness, safety, ease of use and comfort communicating, each scored on a 4-point ordinal scale). Qualitative content analysis was performed of physiotherapists' free-text responses about perceived facilitators, barriers and safety issues.

Results

Physiotherapists gave moderate-to-high ratings for the effectiveness of and their satisfaction with videoconferencing. Most intended to continue to offer individual consultations (81%) and group classes (60%) via videoconferencing beyond the pandemic. For individual consultations and group classes, respectively, most patients had moderately or extremely positive perceptions about ease of technology use (94%, 91%), comfort communicating (96%, 86%), satisfaction with management (92%, 93%), satisfaction with privacy/security (98%, 95%), safety (99% both) and effectiveness (83%, 89%). Compared with 68% for group classes, 47% of patients indicated they were moderately or extremely likely to choose videoconferencing for individual consultations in the future. Technology was predominant as both a facilitator and barrier. Falls risk was the main safety factor.

Conclusion

Patients and physiotherapists had overall positive experiences using videoconferencing for individual consultations and group classes. The results suggest that videoconferencing is a viable option for the delivery of physiotherapy care in the future.

SUBMITTER: Bennell KL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8188301 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Physiotherapists and patients report positive experiences overall with telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods study.

Bennell Kim L KL Lawford Belinda J BJ Metcalf Ben B Mackenzie David D Russell Trevor T van den Berg Maayken M Finnin Karen K Crowther Shelley S Aiken Jenny J Fleming Jenine J Hinman Rana S RS

Journal of physiotherapy 20210609 3

<h4>Question</h4>What were the experiences of physiotherapists and patients who consulted via videoconference during the COVID-19 pandemic and how was it implemented?<h4>Design</h4>Mixed methods study with cross-sectional national online surveys and qualitative analysis of free-text responses.<h4>Participants</h4>A total of 207 physiotherapists in private practice or community settings and 401 patients aged ≥ 18 years who consulted (individual and/or group) via videoconference from April to Nove ...[more]

PMID: 34147399

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Project description:IntroductionThe first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic saw the reconfiguration of perinatal and maternity services, national lockdowns, and social distancing measures which affected the perinatal experiences of new and expectant parents. This study aimed to explore the occurrence of postpartum anxieties in people who gave birth during the pandemic.MethodsAn exploratory concurrent mixed-methods design was chosen to collect and analyse the quantitative and qualitative data of an online survey during the first UK lockdown. The survey included the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale-Research Short Form-for use in global Crises [PSAS-RSF-C] psychometric tool, and open-ended questions in relation to changes in birth plans and feelings about those changes and giving birth in a pandemic. Differences in measured scores were analysed for the participant's ethnicity, sexual orientation and disability using independent Student's t-tests, and for age, the analysis was completed using Pearson's correlation. Qualitative data from open-ended questions were analysed using a template analysis.ResultsA total of 1,754 new and expectant parents completed the survey between 10th and 24th April 2020, and 381 eligible postnatal women completed the psychometric test. We found 52.5% of participants reported symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of postnatal anxiety-significantly higher than the rates usually reported. Younger women and sexual minority women were more likely to score highly on the PSAS-RSF-C than their older or heterosexual counterparts (p<0.001). Younger participants reported anxieties in the 'infant safety and welfare' category, whilst lesbian, gay, bisexual, and pansexual participants scored highly in the 'psychosocial adjustment to motherhood' category.DiscussionPostpartum anxiety is under-reported, and demographic differences in the rates of postpartum anxiety are under-researched. This research demonstrates for the first time a difference in postpartum anxiety rates amongst sexual minority women.

Dataset Information

Physiotherapists and patients report positive experiences overall with telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods study.

Question

Design

Participants

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Physiotherapists and patients report positive experiences overall with telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods study.

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