Respiratory Telerehabilitation of Boys and Young Men with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Agnieszka Sobierajska-Rek, Łukasz Mański, Joanna Jabłońska-Brudło, Karolina Śledzińska, Eliza Wasilewska and Dominika Szalewska
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Agnieszka Sobierajska-Rek: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-219 Gdansk, Poland
Łukasz Mański: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
Joanna Jabłońska-Brudło: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-219 Gdansk, Poland
Karolina Śledzińska: Department of Internal and Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
Eliza Wasilewska: Department of Pulmonology and Allergology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
Dominika Szalewska: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-219 Gdansk, Poland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-10

Abstract: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced reorganization of the multidisciplinary healthcare system for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Digital solutions seem to be optimal for providing rehabilitation at this time. The aim of this study was to investigate whether it is possible to conduct respiratory physical therapy with the use of telerehabilitation in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Methods: The study was conducted during an online conference for families with DMD. During the physical therapy panel we showed the video with the instructions of respiratory exercises. All participants ( n = 152) were asked to fill in the online survey evaluating the quality, acceptance, and understanding of the instructions. Results: The survey was filled in by 45 (29.6%) participants. The mean rating of satisfaction was 4.70/5, and for intelligibility was 4.78/5. Thirty-seven (82.2%) patients declared that they had performed the exercises, all caregivers declared that it was possible to perform the proposed exercises a few times a week or daily, and only two respondents replied to invitations to individual online sessions. Conclusions: Findings from the study show that respiratory telerehabilitation may be implemented for DMD patients; however, the interest in digital rehabilitation among caregivers of DMD boys in Poland is low. The reasons for this situation require further research.

Keywords: DMD; children; telerehabilitation; respiratory rehabilitation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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