Developing an mHealth App-based Telerehabilitation Programme for Stroke Survivors: A Feasibility and Usability Study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Digital Health

Background:

• Telerehabilitation, particularly via mobile health (mHealth) apps, presents a viable strategy for extending and intensifying post-stroke rehabilitation remotely.
• The REApad platform facilitates telerehabilitation through interactive exercises and educational content.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the usability, adherence, and satisfaction of the TeleRe-app, a telerehabilitation application, among individuals recovering from stroke.
• To determine the feasibility of using a mobile health application for remote stroke rehabilitation and monitoring.

Main Methods:

• A 4-week feasibility study involving 28 post-stroke individuals using the TeleRe-app (5 times/week, 30 min/session).
• Included self-rehabilitation exercises (video, serious games), therapeutic education, and weekly remote monitoring via teleconferencing.
• Usability measured by System Usability Scale (SUS), satisfaction by Likert scales, and adherence by usage frequency and duration.

Main Results:

• TeleRe-app demonstrated excellent usability (SUS score: 85%) and high user satisfaction (average 8/10), with better outcomes for outpatients.
• Participants averaged 4 sessions/week (16 min/session), lower than prescribed, but supplemented with an additional 70 min/week of exercise.
• Remote monitoring via teleconferencing was integrated into the weekly routine.

Conclusions:

• The TeleRe-app is a feasible and valuable tool for post-stroke telerehabilitation, enhancing conventional therapy.
• Further clinical trials are warranted to validate its efficacy and long-term impact on stroke recovery.