Balancing Access with Technology: Comparing In-Person and Telerehabilitation Berg Balance Scale Scores among Stroke...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Stroke survivors in rural areas face significant barriers to accessing specialized rehabilitation.
• Balance assessment is a critical component of physiotherapy following a stroke.
• Telerehabilitation (TRH) offers a potential solution to bridge geographical access gaps in healthcare services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the agreement between Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores obtained via TRH and traditional in-person assessments.
• To assess the feasibility and patient perception of using TRH for balance assessment in stroke survivors.

Main Methods:

• The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was administered to 20 community-dwelling stroke survivors by two raters using both TRH and in-person methods.
• Assessment order and rater assignment were randomized.
• Interrater reliability was calculated using Krippendorff's alpha, and a survey assessed patient perceptions.

Main Results:

• Excellent interrater agreement was observed between TRH and in-person BBS assessments (κ = 0.97).
• Patient-reported perceptions of instruction clarity, hearing, and safety were comparable across both assessment methods.
• The majority of participants expressed willingness to use TRH for future physiotherapy sessions.

Conclusions:

• Telerehabilitation (TRH) is a reliable method for administering the Berg Balance Scale (BBS).
• TRH can effectively facilitate balance assessment for stroke survivors, particularly those in underserved rural and remote communities.
• Implementing TRH can enhance access to essential physiotherapy services, improving rehabilitation outcomes for stroke survivors.