Telerehabilitation as a Teaching–Learning Tool in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Training in the Philippines

Abstract

Background:Prepandemic, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) residency training curricula in the Philippines did not include telerehabilitation. The impact of virtual care on residents’ competencies during the pandemic has not been evaluated locally.Objective:The objective of the study is to determine residents’ ability to achieve PM&R competencies through telerehabilitation.Methods:This mixed-methods study included an original survey among residents and a focus group discussion with training/administrative staff.Findings:Residents reported professionalism, interpersonal/communication skills, and medical ethics/public health as the top three competencies facilitated by telerehabilitation, while procedural skills were the least facilitated. Training/administrative staff perceived telerehabilitation could be incorporated into PM&R training curricula.Conclusions:Telerehabilitation contributed to residents’ achievement of training competencies and learning of PM&R topics/skills.