Developing an mHealth App-based Telerehabilitation Programme for Stroke Survivors: A Feasibility and Usability Study

Abstract

Telerehabilitation, especially through mobile health applications, offers a promising approach to prolong and intensify stroke rehabilitation at a distance. This feasibility study aims to evaluate the usability, adherence and satisfaction of a telerehabilitation application called TeleRe-app for post-stroke individuals. The TeleRe-app uses the REApad platform. It includes self-rehabilitation exercises presented via video and serious games, and therapeutic education. Subjects were asked to use TeleRe-app for 4 weeks, 5 times/week, 30 min/session. Weekly remote monitoring was organised through the TeleRe-app teleconferencing module. Usability and satisfaction were measured using Likert scales and the System Usability Scale (SUS), while adherence was tracked by frequency and duration of use of TeleRe-app. 28 post-stroke individuals participated in the study. The usability of TeleRe-app was excellent (SUS 85%). Satisfaction was high (averaged 8/10). These results were better for outpatients than for inpatients. On average, participants performed telerehabilitation 4 times/week for 16 min/session. Adherence was thus lower than expected, but participants engaged in additional exercise by an average of 70 min/week. TeleRe-app is a valuable adjunct to conventional rehabilitation and warrants further evaluation in clinical trials.

ClinicalTrials Registration : NCT06016374