Challenges to the Emergence of Telerehabilitation in a Developing Country: A Systematic Review
Background: Despite being known abroad as a viable alternative to face-to-face consultation and therapy, telerehabilitation has not fully emerged in developing countries like the Philippines. In the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, wherein social distancing disrupted the in...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neurology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fneur.2020.01007/full |
| _version_ | 1828886627949215744 |
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| author | Carl Froilan D. Leochico Carl Froilan D. Leochico Adrian I. Espiritu Adrian I. Espiritu Sharon D. Ignacio Sharon D. Ignacio Jose Alvin P. Mojica |
| author_facet | Carl Froilan D. Leochico Carl Froilan D. Leochico Adrian I. Espiritu Adrian I. Espiritu Sharon D. Ignacio Sharon D. Ignacio Jose Alvin P. Mojica |
| author_sort | Carl Froilan D. Leochico |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Despite being known abroad as a viable alternative to face-to-face consultation and therapy, telerehabilitation has not fully emerged in developing countries like the Philippines. In the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, wherein social distancing disrupted the in-clinic delivery of rehabilitation services, Filipinos attempted to explore telerehabilitation. However, several hindrances were observed especially during the pre-implementation phase of telerehabilitation, necessitating a review of existing local evidences.Objective: We aimed to determine the challenges faced by telerehabilitation in the Philippines.Method: We searched until March 2020 through PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and HeRDIN for telerehabilitation-related publications wherein Filipinos were involved as investigator or population. Because of the hypothesized low number of scientific outputs on telerehabilitation locally, we performed handsearching through gray literature and included relevant papers from different rehabilitation-related professional organizations in the Philippines. We analyzed the papers and extracted the human, organizational, and technical challenges to telerehabilitation or telehealth in general.Results: We analyzed 21 published and 4 unpublished papers, which were mostly reviews (8), feasibility studies (6), or case reports/series (4). Twelve out of 25 studies engaged patients and physicians in remote teleconsultation, teletherapy, telementoring, or telemonitoring. Patients sought telemedicine or telerehabilitation for general medical conditions (in 3 studies), chronic diseases (2), mental health issues (2), orthopedic problems (2), neurologic conditions (1), communication disorders (1), and cardiac conditions (1). Outcomes in aforementioned studies mostly included telehealth acceptance, facilitators, barriers, and satisfaction. Other studies were related to telehealth governance, legalities, and ethical issues. We identified 18 human, 17 organizational, and 18 technical unique challenges related to telerehabilitation in the Philippines. The most common challenges were slow internet speed (in 10 studies), legal concerns (9), and skepticism (9).Conclusion: There is paucity of data on telerehabilitation in the Philippines. Local efforts can focus on exploring or addressing the most pressing human, organizational, and technical challenges to the emergence of telerehabilitation in the country. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T11:48:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1946b599b60a4ebc839e9dbec0ae139f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-2295 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T11:48:11Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neurology |
| spelling | doaj.art-1946b599b60a4ebc839e9dbec0ae139f2022-12-21T23:47:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952020-09-011110.3389/fneur.2020.01007555164Challenges to the Emergence of Telerehabilitation in a Developing Country: A Systematic ReviewCarl Froilan D. Leochico0Carl Froilan D. Leochico1Adrian I. Espiritu2Adrian I. Espiritu3Sharon D. Ignacio4Sharon D. Ignacio5Jose Alvin P. Mojica6Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, PhilippinesDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Luke's Medical Center, Taguig, PhilippinesDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, PhilippinesDepartment of Neurosciences, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, PhilippinesDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, PhilippinesDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Luke's Medical Center, Taguig, PhilippinesDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, PhilippinesBackground: Despite being known abroad as a viable alternative to face-to-face consultation and therapy, telerehabilitation has not fully emerged in developing countries like the Philippines. In the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, wherein social distancing disrupted the in-clinic delivery of rehabilitation services, Filipinos attempted to explore telerehabilitation. However, several hindrances were observed especially during the pre-implementation phase of telerehabilitation, necessitating a review of existing local evidences.Objective: We aimed to determine the challenges faced by telerehabilitation in the Philippines.Method: We searched until March 2020 through PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and HeRDIN for telerehabilitation-related publications wherein Filipinos were involved as investigator or population. Because of the hypothesized low number of scientific outputs on telerehabilitation locally, we performed handsearching through gray literature and included relevant papers from different rehabilitation-related professional organizations in the Philippines. We analyzed the papers and extracted the human, organizational, and technical challenges to telerehabilitation or telehealth in general.Results: We analyzed 21 published and 4 unpublished papers, which were mostly reviews (8), feasibility studies (6), or case reports/series (4). Twelve out of 25 studies engaged patients and physicians in remote teleconsultation, teletherapy, telementoring, or telemonitoring. Patients sought telemedicine or telerehabilitation for general medical conditions (in 3 studies), chronic diseases (2), mental health issues (2), orthopedic problems (2), neurologic conditions (1), communication disorders (1), and cardiac conditions (1). Outcomes in aforementioned studies mostly included telehealth acceptance, facilitators, barriers, and satisfaction. Other studies were related to telehealth governance, legalities, and ethical issues. We identified 18 human, 17 organizational, and 18 technical unique challenges related to telerehabilitation in the Philippines. The most common challenges were slow internet speed (in 10 studies), legal concerns (9), and skepticism (9).Conclusion: There is paucity of data on telerehabilitation in the Philippines. Local efforts can focus on exploring or addressing the most pressing human, organizational, and technical challenges to the emergence of telerehabilitation in the country.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fneur.2020.01007/fulltelemedicinetelerehabilitationbarriersrehabilitation medicinehealthcare deliverydeveloping country |
| spellingShingle | Carl Froilan D. Leochico Carl Froilan D. Leochico Adrian I. Espiritu Adrian I. Espiritu Sharon D. Ignacio Sharon D. Ignacio Jose Alvin P. Mojica Challenges to the Emergence of Telerehabilitation in a Developing Country: A Systematic Review Frontiers in Neurology telemedicine telerehabilitation barriers rehabilitation medicine healthcare delivery developing country |
| title | Challenges to the Emergence of Telerehabilitation in a Developing Country: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Challenges to the Emergence of Telerehabilitation in a Developing Country: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Challenges to the Emergence of Telerehabilitation in a Developing Country: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges to the Emergence of Telerehabilitation in a Developing Country: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Challenges to the Emergence of Telerehabilitation in a Developing Country: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | challenges to the emergence of telerehabilitation in a developing country a systematic review |
| topic | telemedicine telerehabilitation barriers rehabilitation medicine healthcare delivery developing country |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fneur.2020.01007/full |
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