Respiratory telerehabilitation: user experience and satisfaction with the program

The rise of telehealth in geriatric care is an inexorable movement toward adapting to global digitalization trends, in terms of both technology and implementation experiences, with clear gains for health systems and citizens. A literature review shows that the older population, with lower levels of digital literacy, faces specific challenges with this type of service. The aim of this study was to understand the way older people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or long COVID perceive the implementation of telerehabilitation programs to meet their healthcare needs.

A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews to answer the research question: How do older people perceive telerehabilitation programs? The study participants were 17 people aged ≥ 65 years old who had completed a respiratory telerehabilitation program at a Portuguese hospital. The interviews were submitted to content analysis using WebQDA^® qualitative data analysis software.

The study participants had an average age of 70.94 ± 7.44 years old. The content of the interviews with these older people points to easy adaptation to the telerehabilitation program. Three categories and their respectives subcategories emerged from the content analysis: (1) access and continuity of care (access, continuity of care, and self-management); (2) presence (communication with the team and maintaining relationships); and (3) experience in the program (comfort, advantages, and difficulties).

This study allows for an understanding of how older people perceive participation in telerehabilitation programs, what they value, and the difficulties they experience. It makes it possible to make recommendations for clinic practice and research into this emerging area of health care.