Clinician Perspectives on mRehab Interventions and Technologies for People with Disabilities in the United States: A National Survey

John Morris, Mike Jones, Nicole Thompson, Tracey Wallace and Frank DeRuyter
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John Morris: Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA
Mike Jones: Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA
Nicole Thompson: Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA
Tracey Wallace: Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA
Frank DeRuyter: Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27708, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-11

Abstract: Mobile health and mobile rehabilitation (mHealth and mRehab) services and technologies have attracted considerable interest from healthcare providers, technology vendors, rehabilitation engineers, investors and policy makers in recent years. Successful adoption and use of mHealth/mRehab requires clinician support and engagement, including the ability to identify appropriate use cases and possible barriers to use for themselves and their patients, and acquire adequate knowledge and confidence using mHealth/mRehab interventions. This article reports results from a survey of rehabilitation clinicians in the United States on their attitudes, experience, expectations and concerns regarding mHealth/mRehab interventions and technologies. Over 500 clinicians in physical, occupational, speech, recreation and psychological therapy professions, among others, participated in the survey. Respondents reported that an overwhelming majority of their patients need additional therapy after discharge from inpatient environments, and over half of outpatients need additional therapy between visits. A large majority reported prescribing specific exercises and interventions for patients to work on outside of the clinic. However, only 51% reported being comfortable integrating mRehab technology into their practice; and only 23% feel knowledgeable about rehabilitation technology currently available. Technologies to support mRehab are maturing rapidly. Clinicians recognize the need for mRehab, but their knowledge and confidence prescribing mRehab represents a significant barrier to adoption.

Keywords: mobile health; mHealth; mRehab; disability; rehabilitation; information and communication technology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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