Effectiveness of a telerehabilitation program on the functionality and user satisfaction of COVID-19 survivors in times of pandemic

Abstract

This study’s objective is to describe the effects of a telerehabilitation program on functionality and user satisfaction of COVID-19 survivors in public hospitals. It is an observational, longitudinal and retrospective study. The background was compiled from medical twenty adult user from public hospitals with limited resources, whom had entered a telerehabilitation program supervised by physiotherapists between June and October 2020 were complied. The functional capacity variables of functional capacity and lower extremity strength with Sit-to-Stand test, the functional status evaluated with the Fatigue assessment scale and the independence doing daily life activities (AVDs) evaluated with the Barthel Index. The user satisfaction surveys that patients answered after the intervention had ended were also compiled. After telerehabilitation, patients improved functional capacity and lower limb strength, functional status, AVDs (p<0.01; effect size range=-0.18;-0.40) and expressed good user satisfaction. There were no differences in fatigue perception (p=0.33; effect size=0.08) after the intervention. We concluded that a structured telerehabilitation program for COVID-19 survivors, proved to be effective for functionality and user satisfaction of this population.