Introduction: Respiratory rehabilitation (RR) is an individualized and essencial intervention for patients with chronic respiratory diseases. Despite its benefits, it’s often restricted by geographical, economic and health-related constraints. Telerehabilitation (TR) emerges as an opportunity to mitigate these limitations. This study aims to explore the barriers and advantages of TR from the patient’s viewpoint. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using an investigator-developed survey, in a tertiary hospital. The investigation focused on characterizing the practical barriers and potential benefits of TR perceived by adult patients who were referred to respiratory rehabilitation and provided informed consent. Results: The study included 99 participants (74.8% male, mean age 65±9 years), primarily retired (70.7%) and ex-smokers (66.7%) with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (61,6%). The majority lived ≤20 km from the hospital (72.7%), mainly traveling by car (70.7%). Internet access was reported by 82.8%, and 67.7% had a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Confidence and frequency of use of digital devices were variable with a substantial proportion reporting low levels (53.5% and 54.5% respectively). Although the majority of participants lived with another person (87.9%), only 41.4% reported having assistance with information technology. Approximately half of the participants (51.5%) had previously attended RR and all of them expressed interest in re-enrolling. Overall, 50.5% reported interest in pulmonary telerehabilitation, with 55.6% considering it safe. Key perceived advantages included avoiding travel (50.5%) and greater scheduling flexibility (26.3%), while 30% reported no advantages. Main barriers were lack of exercise equipment (62.6%), limited digital literacy (44.4%), and insufficient access to technological devices (36.4%). Most preferred individual telerehabilitation (51.5%), when asked between individual or group telerehabilitation. Conclusions: Avoiding travel and scheduling flexibility were identified as the primary advantages of telerehabilitation. However, technological barriers and the lack of exercise equipment may limit the implementation of TR and should be addressed.
Sá et al. (Wed,) studied this question.