“Much better than I thought it was going to be”: Telehealth delivered group-based education and exercise was perceived as acceptable among people with knee osteoarthritis

A.M. Ezzat; E. Bell; J.L. Kemp; P. O'Halloran; T. Russell; J. Wallis; C.J. Barton

Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open (Sep 2022)

“Much better than I thought it was going to be”: Telehealth delivered group-based education and exercise was perceived as acceptable among people with knee osteoarthritis

A.M. Ezzat,
E. Bell,
J.L. Kemp,
P. O'Halloran,
T. Russell,
J. Wallis,
C.J. Barton

Affiliations

A.M. Ezzat: La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia; Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Corresponding author. La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia.
E. Bell: La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
J.L. Kemp: La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia; Department of Physiotherapy Podiatry and Prosthetics and Orthotics, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
P. O'Halloran: La Trobe University College of Science Health and Engineering, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
T. Russell: RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
J. Wallis: Department of Physiotherapy Podiatry and Prosthetics and Orthotics, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia; Monash Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Cabrini Institute and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Australia
C.J. Barton: La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia; Department of Physiotherapy Podiatry and Prosthetics and Orthotics, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia; Department of Surgery, St Vincent's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Australia

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 4, no. 3
p. 100271

Abstract

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Objective: To understand patient perceived acceptability of participating in a telehealth delivered group-based education and exercise-therapy program for knee osteoarthritis. Design: This qualitative study involved semi-structured, one-on-one interviews with knee osteoarthritis patients who have completed the Good Living with osteoArthritis from Denmark (GLA:D®) program via telehealth or in-person. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded, and analysed using an inductive content analysis approach, focusing on themes related to telehealth. Results: Nineteen participants [12 (63%) female, mean aged 62 years, range 49–72 years] were included. Eleven (58%) received GLA:D® via telehealth and 8 (42%) attended in-person sessions. Two overarching themes (6 sub-themes) related to telehealth perceived acceptability were identified: 1) Perceptions of telehealth acceptability was highly influenced by exposure. Individuals who had received telehealth considered it easy, convenient, and flexible, whereas telehealth was perceived to be inferior and misunderstood by those without exposure. 2) Telehealth participants reported similar program benefits to in-person participants, including reduced fear of pain and joint damage, changed beliefs in value of exercise, and stated improvements in pain and function. Conclusions: Telehealth delivery of group-based education and exercise-therapy for knee osteoarthritis was acceptable for people who had experienced it and provides similar benefits as in-person care for pain and beliefs about the safety and value of exercise. Wider implementation of telehealth group-based education and exercise-therapy may improve access to high value care for people with knee osteoarthritis.

Published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open

ISSN: 2665-9131 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/osteoarthritis-and-cartilage-open/

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