Telerehabilitation in Response to Critical Coronavirus: A Systematic Review Based on Current Evidence

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 MSc Student, Health Information Technology, Department of Health Information Technology AND Student Research Committee, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 MSc Student, Health Information Technology, Department of Health Information Technology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Health Information Technology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Background: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate and identify the latest evidence on the feasibility and accessibility of telerehabilitation services in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and control of patients with COVID-19.
Methods: The studies were retrieved from the authoritative scientific databases Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed on November 25, 2021. Then, the gray literature was scrutinized using the Google search engine to identify the latest possible evidence. Randomized controlled trial studies and protocols that used the telerehabilitation approach as an intervention to improve the condition of distant COVID-19 patients were part of the inclusion criteria. In order to assess the quality of the studies entering this study, the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Randomized Controlled Trials was used. The same checklist was used for data extraction.
Findings: A total of 7 eligible articles were obtained in this review. The quality assessment results showed that there was no significant bias in the studies and all studies were eligible to be included in our study. In two studies (3.7, 43%), telerehabilitation was used to support COVID-19 patient, both of which reported significant improvement in endurance, functional and physical condition of patients with telerehabilitation. However, no significant improvement was found in patients' pulmonary function parameters. In contrast, another study showed a significant improvement in shortness of breath and aerobic capacity of patients in the intervention group compared to the control.
Conclusion: The results of the systematic review showed that a small number of small-scale studies on telerehabilitation have been performed for patients with COVID-19. However, it seems telerehabilitation has great potential to improve the functional, respiratory, physical condition and ultimately improve the quality of life of patients with COVID-19.

Keywords

References

  1. World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). [Online]. [cited 2020 April 2]. Available from URL:

https://www.who.int/docs/default-
source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200402-sitrep-73-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=5ae25bc7_6

  1. Pelicioni PH, Lord SR. COVID-19 will severely impact older people's lives, and in many more ways
    than you think! Braz J Phys Ther 2020; 24(4): 293-4.
  2. Yang X, Yu Y, Xu J, Shu H, Liu H, Wu Y, et al. Clinical course and outcomes of critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a single-centered, retrospective, observational study. Lancet Respir Med 2020; 8(5): 475-81.
  3. Sheehy LM. Considerations for postacute rehabilitation for survivors of COVID-19. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2020; 6(2): e19462.
  4. World Health Organization. Pneumonia of unknown cause China: disease outbreak news. [Online]. [cited 2020 January 5]. Available from URL: https:// www.who.int/csr/don/05-january-2020-pneumonia-of-unkown - cause-china/en/
  5. Gonzalez-Gerez JJ, Bernal-Utrera C, Anarte-Lazo E, Garcia-Vidal JA, Botella-Rico JM, Rodriguez-Blanco C. Therapeutic pulmonary telerehabilitation protocol for patients affected by COVID-19, confined to their homes: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2020; 21(1): 588.
  6. Mousavi Baigi SF, Sarbaz M, Marouzi P, Kimiafar K. Evaluating the impact of digital game on learning medical terminology of paramedical students: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Stud Health Technol Inform 2022; 295: 51-4.
  7. Gharib M, Rahmani N. Telerehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Arch Rehabil 2021; 22(1): 2-9.
  8. Bakhshayeh S, Sarbaz M, Kimiafar K, Vakilian F, Eslami S. Barriers to participation in center-based cardiac rehabilitation programs and patients’ attitude toward home-based cardiac rehabilitation programs. Physiother Theory Pract 2021; 37(1): 158-68.
  9. Li J, Xia W, Zhan C, Liu S, Yin Z, Wang J, et al. A telerehabilitation programme in post-discharge COVID-19 patients (TERECO): a randomised controlled trial. Thorax 2022; 77(7): 697-706.
  10. Russell TG. Physical rehabilitation using telemedicine. J Telemed Telecare 2007; 13(5): 217-20.
  11. Rosen MJ. Telerehabilitation. Telemed J E Health 2004; 10(2): 115-7.
  12. Seelman KD, Hartman LM. Telerehabilitation: policy issues and research tools. Int J Telerehabil 2009; 1(1): 47-58.
  13. Choi J, Hergenroeder AL, Burke L, Dabbs AD, Morrell M, Saptono A, et al. Delivering an in-home exercise program via telerehabilitation: A pilot study of lung transplant go (LTGO). Int J Telerehabil 2016; 8(2): 15-26.
  14. Lloréns R, Noé E, Colomer C, Alcañiz M. Effectiveness, usability, and cost-benefit of a virtual reality-based telerehabilitation program for balance recovery after stroke: A randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2015; 96(3): 418-25. e2.
  15. van Straaten MG, Cloud BA, Morrow MM, Ludewig PM, Zhao KD. Effectiveness of home exercise on pain, function, and strength of manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury: a high-dose shoulder program with telerehabilitation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2014; 95(10): 1810-7. e2.
  16. Piotrowicz E, Piotrowicz R, Opolski G, Pencina M, Banach M, Zaręba W. Hybrid comprehensive telerehabilitation in heart failure patients (TELEREH-HF): a randomized, multicenter, prospective, open-label, parallel group controlled trial-study design and description of the intervention. Am Heart J 2019; 217: 148-58.
  17. Head BA, Studts JL, Bumpous JM, Gregg JL, Wilson L, Keeney C, et al. Development of a telehealth intervention for head and neck cancer patients. Telemed J E Health 2009; 15(1): 44-52.
  18. Thompson DA, Leimig R, Gower G, Winsett RP. Assessment of depressive symptoms during post-transplant follow-up care performed via telehealth. Telemed J E Health 2009; 15(7): 700-6.
  19. Liberati A, Altman DG, Tetzlaff J, Mulrow C, Gøtzsche PC, Ioannidis JP, et al. The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: explanation and elaboration. J Clin Epidemiol 2009; 62(10): e1-e34.
  20. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, Altman D, Antes G, et al. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement (Chinese edition). Chin J Integr Med 2009; 7(9): 889-96.
  21. The Joanna Briggs Institute. Critical appraisal checklist for randomized controlled trials. [Online]. [cited 2017]. Available from: URL:

[https://jbi.global/sites/default/files/2019-05/JBI_RCTs_Appraisal_tool2017_0.pdf]

  1. Gonzalez-Gerez JJ, Bernal-Utrera C, Anarte-Lazo E, Garcia-Vidal JA, Botella-Rico JM, Rodriguez-Blanco C. Therapeutic pulmonary telerehabilitation protocol for patients affected by COVID-19, confined to their homes: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2020; 21(1): 588.
  2. Pastora-Bernal JM, Estebanez-Pérez MJ, Molina-Torres G, García-López FJ, Sobrino-Sánchez R, Martín-Valero R. Telerehabilitation intervention in patients with covid-19 after hospital discharge to improve functional capacity and quality of life. Study protocol for a multicenter randomized clinical trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18(6): 2924.
  3. Rodriguez-Blanco C, Gonzalez-Gerez JJ, Bernal-Utrera C, Anarte-Lazo E, Perez-Ale M, Saavedra-Hernandez M. Short-term effects of a conditioning telerehabilitation program in confined patients affected by COVID-19 in the acute phase. A pilot randomized controlled trial. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) 2021; 57(7): 684.
  4. Rodriguez-Blanco C, Bernal-Utrera C, Anarte-Lazo E, Saavedra-Hernandez M, De-la-Barrera-Aranda E, Serrera-Figallo MA, et al. Breathing exercises versus strength exercises through telerehabilitation in coronavirus disease 2019 patients in the acute phase: A randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil 2022; 36(4): 486-97.
  5. da Silva TD, de Oliveira PM, Dionizio JB, de Santana AP, Bahadori S, Dias ED, et al. Comparison between conventional intervention and non-immersive virtual reality in the rehabilitation of individuals in an inpatient unit for the treatment of COVID-19: A study protocol for a randomized controlled crossover trial. Front Psychol 2021; 12: 622618.
  6. Turan Z, Topaloglu M, Ozyemisci Taskiran O. Is tele-rehabilitation superior to home exercise program in COVID-19 survivors following discharge from intensive care unit? - A study protocol of a randomized controlled trial. Physiother Res Int 2021; 26(4): e1920.
  7. Swain DP, ACSM, Brawner CA. ACSM's resource manual for guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott williams & wilkins; 2013.
  8. Karvonen MJ, Kentala E, Mustala O. The effects of training on heart rate; a longitudinal study. Ann Med Exp Biol Fenn 1957; 35(3): 307-15.
  9. Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, Respiratory Rehabilitation Committee of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Group of Chinese Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Recommendations for respiratory rehabilitation of coronavirus disease 2019 in adult. Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi 2020; 43(4): 308-14.
  10. Martins FPA, Massetti T, Crocetta TB, Lopes PB, da Silva AA, Figueiredo EF, et al. Analysis of motor performance in individuals with cerebral palsy using a non-immersive virtual reality task-a pilot study. Neuropsychiatric Dis Treat 2019; 15: 417-28.
  11. Lins L, Carvalho FM. Sf-36 total score as a single measure of health-related quality of life: Scoping review. SAGE Open Med 2016; 4: 2050312116671725.
  12. Cho M. The effects of modified wall squat exercises on average adults’ deep abdominal muscle thickness and lumbar stability. J Phys Ther Sci 2013; 25(6): 689-92.
  13. Mousavi Baigi SF, Mousavi Baigi SM, Mazaheri Habibi MR. Challenges and opportunities of using telemedicine during Covid-19 epidemic: A systematic review. Frontiers in Health Informatics 2022; 11(1): 109.
  14. Aytür YK, Köseoğlu BF, Taşkıran ÖÖ, Ordu-Gökkaya NK, Delialioğlu SÜ, Tur BS, et al. Pulmonary rehabilitation principles in SARS-COV-2 infection (COVID-19): A guideline for the acute and subacute rehabilitation. Turk J Phys Med Rehabil 2020; 66(2): 104-20.
  15. Kimiafar K, Banaye Yazdipour A, Sarbaz M. Evaluating the students’ view of medical and paramedical sciences about perceived benefits and barriers of virtual social networks for learning purposes. Stud Health Technol Inform 2020; 272: 87-90.
  16. Adly AS, Adly AS, Adly MS, Ali MF. A novel approach utilizing laser acupuncture teletherapy for management of elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized clinical trial. J Telemed Telecare 2021; 27(5): 298-306.
  17. Sadoughi F, Kimiafar K, Ahmadi M, Shakeri MT. Determining of factors influencing the success and failure of hospital information system and their evaluation methods: a systematic review. Iran Red Crescent Med J 2013; 15(12): e11716.
  18. Mousavi Baigi SF, Sarbaz M, Ghaddaripouri K, Noori N, Kimiafar K. The effect of tele-rehabilitation on improving physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review of randomized controlled clinical trials. Frontiers in Health Informatics 2022; 11(1): 113.
  19. Safdari R, Marsa G, Rezayi S, Tanhapour M, Saeedi S. Telehealth and telemedicine in response to critical coronavirus: A systematic review. Iran Red Crescent Med J 2021; 23(9): e1150.
  20. Monaghesh E, Hajizadeh A. The role of telehealth during COVID-19 outbreak: a systematic review based on current evidence. BMC Public Health 2020; 20(1): 1193.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 40, Issue 678
2nd Week, September
September and October 2022
Pages 498-508

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 29 August 2022
  • Accept Date: 29 August 2022

Share

How to cite

Statistics