Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic brought out the need to deliver health care services at a distance in the form of telerehabilitation (TR). This study aimed to analyse the Italian speech and language therapists’ (SLTs) opinions on the feasibility of the TR in the field of speech-language therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. We developed an anonymous survey to determine the SLTs’ opinions on feasibility of TR during lockdown caused by COVID-19. We analysed the survey’s answers provided by 136 SLTs. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient showed good reliability of the survey. The SLTs working previously with TR showed better judgements regarding this method. The comparison analysis between TR and face-to-face treatment delivery showed statistically significant differences as follows: “importance” (4.35 vs. 3.32, p = 0.001), “feasibility” (3.37 vs. 2.11, p < 0.001), “alternative form” (3.64 vs. 2.58, p = 0.001) and “comparison” (2.24 vs. 1.69, p < 0.001), but not with “familiarity” (p = 0.81). The survey showed that most of the Italian SLTs were not satisfied with TR systems. SLTs who used TR previously had a better opinion on this treatment modality. Experience and familiarity with TR systems were key factors for the use of this new rehabilitation modality.
Highlights
Due to the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV2, health care services have required radical changes in the management of health care delivery and the safety of patients and hospital staff, worldwide
This study aimed to analyse the Italian speech and language therapists’ (SLTs) opinion on the feasibility of TR, as well as to study any differences that may exist on the opinion about TR between those who used TR during COVID-19 pandemic and those who continued to provide face-to-face treatments
This study showed that the impersonality of care seems to be the biggest barrier for the implementation of telehealth systems, similar to findings reported in a study by Rettinger et al [15]
Summary
Due to the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV2, health care services have required radical changes in the management of health care delivery and the safety of patients and hospital staff, worldwide. Since December 2019 the world has faced a new virus (SARS-CoV2) which, between February and April 2020, caused the first lockdown in many countries [1]. This situation has created several issues in the delivery of health care services. The problems caused by lockdown were related to the management of COVID-19 patients. Some health care services were suspended, while others were limited only to emergencies
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