The changing demographics of the population, rising costs, patient expectations and the almost ubiquitous nature of digital technology challenge the way current health care, including physiotherapy is delivered. Remote delivery of physiotherapy for people with long term conditions may be an adjunct to traditional face to face models of care and as such is increasingly being trialled and implemented in practice. This method of service delivery however it is not without it challenges.
What are the advantages of delivering physiotherapy remotely for people with long term conditions?
Clinical outcomes of physiotherapy delivered remotely are similar to face to face physiotherapy but it is especially useful for people who find accessing face to face therapy difficult, for example people who work, who have family commitments, who live in remote and rural areas, or whose symptoms or level of disability make travelling for regular therapy very difficult. Remote physiotherapy is also potentially a cost effective method of service delivery to support long term self-management.
What factors are known to make remote physiotherapy programmes more effective?
Remote physiotherapy is usually delivered via the internet. Internet delivered programmes are more effective if they are tailored to the person’s needs, include an element of education, have a strong theoretical basis (eg social cognitive theory) and include behaviour change techniques known to be effective such as goal setting, action planning and feedback, are accessed frequently by users, and although they may have some automated functions, consist of some remote contact with the physiotherapist.
In October’s Physio Club webinar, Dr Lorna Paul looked at the drivers and barriers to the implementation of remote delivery of physiotherapy; from the patient, clinician and service perspective, the current evidence base and the possible models of delivery. Using her own work through the development of webbasedphysio.com she explores co-production of services, methods to promote compliance with the physiotherapy programme and shares her thoughts on where remote delivery might develop in the future.
Join Physio Club now for immediate access to this webinar and learn more about remote delivery of physiotherapy.
