Patient Perspectives on the Need for Telehealth Services in Rehabilitation

Background: The integration of telehealth services in rehabilitation has gained attention as a means to enhance accessibility and patient engagement. Understanding patient perspectives is essential for optimizing these services.Objective: This study aimed to explore patient perspectives on the need for telehealth services in rehabilitation, identifying factors influencing acceptance and satisfaction.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Superior University, Lahore, involving 106 participants. Inclusion criteria were adults receiving or who had received rehabilitation services in the past six months. Data were collected through structured questionnaires assessing demographic details, telehealth access, previous experience, and willingness to use telehealth. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using SPSS version 25, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.Results: The mean age of participants was 45.3 years (SD 12.6), with 52.8% male. Of the participants, 84.9% had access to telehealth-capable devices, 45.3% had previous experience with telehealth, and 71.7% were willing to use it. Support for telehealth was strong or moderate in 70.8% of participants, while 10.3% were against its use.Conclusion: Patients demonstrated a fair to moderate need for telehealth in rehabilitation, highlighting the potential for wider adoption. Future efforts should focus on addressing barriers to enhance patient satisfaction and service effectiveness.