Patient perceptions of remotely-delivered exercise services for osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study in Hong Kong

Exercise is fundamental to osteoarthritis (OA) management, but access to in-person programs is often limited. Remotely-delivered exercise services (RDES) present a viable alternative; however, their acceptability among patients in Hong Kong (HK) is not well established. This study sought to investigate patient perceptions, compare them with existing Australian data, and inform the development of culturally tailored OA care in urban Asian settings.

A cross-sectional study was conducted using online surveys completed by 243 OA patients in HK. Participants rated their perceptions on 5-point Likert scales. Descriptive analysis was conducted and results were visualized using radar charts, and findings were compared with one published Australian study.

Although 70% of HK patients expressed interest in RDES, valuing time-saving (79%) and convenience (67%), significant concerns persisted. Only 34% found RDES affordable, and merely 40% believed it offered satisfaction equivalent to in-person care. Furthermore, HK patients reported lower agreement than Australians on satisfaction (40% vs 68%) and ease of use (51% vs 78%).

Hong Kong OA patients recognize the potential benefits of RDES, yet key concerns regarding affordability, satisfaction, and effectiveness remain. The discrepancies with both local clinicians and international benchmarks highlight a critical implementation gap. These findings emphasize the necessity for co-designed, culturally adapted interventions to successfully integrate RDES into OA care in Hong Kong.