Key result
Telerehab exercise shows preliminary evidence of improving physical function and quality of life after hospitalization.
Why the study?
The effectiveness of exercise interventions delivered via telerehabilitation through videoconference had not been evaluated in recently hospitalized adult medical patients.
Do exercise interventions delivered via telerehabilitation improve physical function and quality of life in recently hospitalized adult medical patients?
Systematic Review (n=201)
Do exercise interventions delivered via telerehabilitation improve physical function and quality of life in recently hospitalized adult medical patients?
Telerehabilitation-delivered exercise interventions show preliminary feasibility and high patient satisfaction for recently hospitalized patients with heart failure or COPD, though robust evidence for functional improvement remains limited.
Telerehabilitation exercise warrants caution before routine adoption post-hospitalization; leaves open the need for rigorous trials on functional and quality-of-life benefits.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of exercise interventions delivered via telerehabilitation (via videoconference) for recently hospitalized adult medical patients. Data sources: A search was undertaken across six databases for English language publications from inception to May 2020. Methods: Studies were selected if they included an exercise intervention for recently hospitalized adults, delivered by a physiotherapist via videoconference. Two reviewers independently screened 1,122 articles (21 full text screening) and assessed methodological quality using the Downs and Black Checklist. A narrative synthesis of the included studies was undertaken. Results: Three studies met eligibility criteria involving 201 participants with chronic heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Findings demonstrated limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of exercise delivered via telerehabilitation in improving physical function and patient reported quality of life outcomes in recently hospitalized medical patients. Telerehabilitation in this setting was also associated with high attendance rates and patient satisfaction. Conclusions: Findings provide preliminary support for the benefits of exercise interventions delivered via telerehabilitation for recently hospitalized medical patients. Results do need to be interpreted with caution as further high-quality studies specific to this method of exercise intervention delivery are needed.
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Leslie et al. (2021) conducted a systematic review in Recently hospitalized adult medical patients (chronic heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) (n=201). Telerehabilitation exercise interventions vs. In-person rehabilitation, usual care, or no comparator was evaluated on Physical function and patient-reported quality of life. Exercise interventions delivered via telerehabilitation for recently hospitalized medical patients provided preliminary evidence of improved physical function and quality of life, with high attendance rates and patient satisfaction.
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