Physiotherapist Online Assessment in Patients with Stroke: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: About 15 million people suffer a stroke each year, of which 10-15% occur in people under 50 years of age. The clinical management of neurological disorders depends on reliable diagnostic tools to identify impairments and aid in the early and accurate detection of disease. The objective of this study is to present a systematic review protocol for identifying the scientific evidence on the use of tele-assessment compared with in-person assessment delivery by physiotherapists for stroke patients. This protocol was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (CRD42024613552). Methods: Original studies of any design in which physiotherapy tele-assessment using videoconferencing compared with face-to-face assessment for patients with stroke conditions will be included. The research will be carried out in PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database), and NICE. The risk of bias will be assessed using the Quality Appraisal Tool for studies of diagnostic Reliability (QAREL) and the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS). Results: The screening, selection, and analysis process will be conducted by two independent researchers and reviewed by a third evaluator to resolve any potential disagreements. The feasibility of conducting a meta-analysis for quantitative data will be evaluated based on the homogeneity analysis of the selected studies. Conclusions: We hope that this systematic review protocol will provide scientific evidence for tele-assessment as a physiotherapeutic assessment strategy for stroke patients and that it will be available as a complementary tool to face-to-face physiotherapeutic assessments for specific situations.