Home-based telerehabilitation software systems for remote supervising: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Digital health
• Rehabilitation technology
• Health informatics

Background:

• Home-based rehabilitation (HBR) has gained prominence due to advancements in information and communication technologies.
• Numerous software systems have been developed to support HBR programs, offering diverse functionalities for remote supervision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the functional features of software systems designed for the remote supervision of home-based rehabilitation programs.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across major databases (Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, etc.) for English-language articles published between January 2008 and February 2018.
• Studies reporting on home-based telerehabilitation software systems for remote HBR supervision were included.

Main Results:

• Twenty-two unique systems were identified across fifty studies.
• Key functionalities included exercise plan management, report generation, patient education, and task scheduling.
• Systems addressed musculoskeletal, neurological, respiratory, and cardiovascular conditions, with usability, acceptability, and clinical outcomes being primary reported metrics.

Conclusions:

• Software systems for HBR supervision exhibit diverse functionalities but share common features.
• Further research is essential to define the requirements, structure, and real-world effectiveness of these systems.