Substantiating Clinical Effectiveness and Potential Barriers to the Widespread Implementation of Spinal Cord Injury Telerehabilitation: A Systematic Review and Qualitative Synthesis of Randomized Trials in the Recent Past Decade

Telemedicine Reports, 2021 · DOI: 10.1089/tmr.2020.0026 · Published: January 1, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Telehealth & Digital Health

Simple Explanation

This review examines the effectiveness and obstacles to using telerehabilitation for spinal cord injuries (teleSCI). It looks at studies from 2010-2020 to see if teleSCI improves patient outcomes. The review found that teleSCI can positively impact SCI management, helping patients in areas like wound care and mental health. However, challenges such as technology limitations and data privacy concerns hinder its widespread use. More data is needed to promote the adoption of teleSCI. Issues like cost-effectiveness and data security need to be addressed to convince healthcare experts and policymakers.

Study Duration

2010-2020

Participants

818 SCI/D participants

Evidence Level

Systematic Review and Qualitative Synthesis of Randomized Trials

Key Findings

1
The majority of studies demonstrated significant positive outcomes to validate teleSCI clinical effectiveness through conventional technology.
2
Most studies used telephones and computers for intervention delivery, with web-based platforms being the most common technology.
3
Data security and privacy were often unaddressed in the reviewed studies, raising concerns about HIPAA compliance and the risk of data breaches.

Research Summary

This systematic review substantiates the clinical effectiveness of teleSCI and conﬁrms existing potential barriers in its widespread global implementation by verifying the statistical signiﬁcance of clinical outcomes from randomized trials published within the recent past decade. The review found that the majority of studies demonstrated significant positive outcomes, validating the clinical effectiveness of teleSCI through conventional technology. These results expand understanding of teleSCI's potential to improve the lives of individuals with SCI. Heterogeneity of selected studies limits the conclusive recommendations to address potential barriers to its widespread implementation. Moreover, the development of new data is warranted to promote ‘‘buy-in’’ of widespread teleSCI implementation.

Practical Implications

Validate teleSCI Clinical Effectiveness

Demonstrates significant positive outcomes to validate teleSCI clinical effectiveness through conventional technology.

Improve SCI Individuals’ Lives

Results expand our understanding of teleSCI’s impact and its demonstrated potential for improving SCI individuals’ lives.

Address Implementation Barriers

Further research is needed to address the barriers to widespread implementation, such as technology limitations, data security, and cost-effectiveness.

Study Limitations

1
Heterogeneity of selected studies limits the conclusive recommendations.
2
The study’s inclusion criteria served to be a limitation by failing to capture a sizable compilation of journal articles.
3
Lack of standardized neurological levels of injury reporting across studies.

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