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

José-Manuel Pastora-Bernal, María-José Estebanez-Pérez, Guadalupe Molina-Torres, Francisco-José García-López, Raquel Sobrino-Sánchez and Rocío Martín-Valero
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José-Manuel Pastora-Bernal: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Science, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
María-José Estebanez-Pérez: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Science, University of Malaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
Guadalupe Molina-Torres: Department of Nursing Science, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain
Francisco-José García-López: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Osuna, 41640 Seville, Spain
Raquel Sobrino-Sánchez: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Osuna, 41640 Seville, Spain
Rocío Martín-Valero: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Science, University of Malaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: COVID-19 can cause important sequels in the respiratory system and frequently presents loss of strength, dyspnea, polyneuropathies and multi-organic affectation. Physiotherapy interventions acquire a fundamental role in the recovery of the functions and the quality of life. Regarding the recovery phases after hospital discharge, the current evidence available is very preliminary. Telerehabilitation is presented as a promising complementary treatment method to standard physiotherapy. The main objective of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized telerehabilitation intervention after discharge from hospital for the improvement of functional capacity and quality of life compared to a program of health education and/or care in a rehabilitation center. As secondary objectives, to identify the satisfaction and perception of patients with the telerehabilitation intervention and the presence of barriers to its implementation, as well as to evaluate the cost-effectiveness from the perspective of the health system. This study protocol will be carried out through a single blind multicenter randomized clinical trial in the south of Spain. We hypothesize that the implementation of a telerehabilitation program presents results not inferior to those obtained with the current standard intervention. If the hypothesis is confirmed, it would be an opportunity to define new policies and interventions to address this disease and its consequences. Trial registration NCT04742946.

Keywords: COVID-19; telerehabilitation; physiotherapy; discharge from hospital; confinement; COVID-19 sequelae (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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