Televideo assessment using Functional Reach Test and European Stroke Scale

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Telehealth

Background:

• Stroke rehabilitation requires accurate physical function assessment.
• Traditional face-to-face assessments can be limited by patient mobility and geographical access.
• Telehealth offers a potential solution for remote patient monitoring and evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the equivalence of physical function assessment between face-to-face and remote administration of the European Stroke Scale (ESS) and Functional Reach Test (FRT).
• To evaluate the reliability of televisit-based physical therapy (PT) evaluations for stroke survivors.

Main Methods:

• 26 stroke patients were randomized into remote or face-to-face assessment groups.
• Each patient was simultaneously assessed by two physical therapists (PTs), one in-person and one remote, blinded to each other's results.
• Equivalence was determined using 95% limits of agreement for the ESS and FRT scores.

Main Results:

• When the face-to-face PT directed, assessments were equivalent for >90% of patients on FRT and most ESS components.
• Equivalence was observed for >90% of patients on FRT and >83% on ESS components when the remote PT directed.
• High agreement rates suggest substantial equivalence between remote and face-to-face functional assessments.

Conclusions:

• Televideo assessment of physical function by PTs is substantially equivalent to face-to-face encounters for stroke patients.
• Remote assessment using ESS and FRT is a viable and reliable method for evaluating stroke survivors' physical function.
• Telehealth can effectively bridge geographical barriers in stroke rehabilitation care.