Changing attitudes towards teletherapy in Austrian therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction Telehealth and its usage strongly depend on regulatory frameworks and user acceptance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists and their patients experienced restrictions regarding the usual face-to-face therapy. Teletherapy has become a highly discussed medium for providing therapy services. This study aimed at assessing Austrian therapists’ attitudes towards teletherapy, including perceived barriers, during and before the COVID-19 lockdown. Further interest referred to therapists’ technical affinity and experiences with the application of teletherapy. Methods Therapists ( n = 325) completed an online survey amid the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Retrospective indications referred to the time prior to the lockdown. Ratings were opposed across the three therapeutic professions. Subgroup analyses investigated the role of gender and age regarding technical affinity. Measures included custom-made attitudinal statements towards teletherapy and the standardized TA-EG survey. Results The COVID-19 lockdown caused attitude changes towards teletherapy – for example, in terms of interest ( r = 0.57, p > 0.01), perceived skills for performance of teletherapy ( r = 0.33, p > 0.01) and perceived need for physical contact with patients ( r = 0.35, p > 0.01). Regarding technical affinity, women reported significantly higher values than men did ( r = 0.32, p > 0.01). Nearly half of the participants already applied teletherapy, with mainly positive ratings regarding perceived skills and feasibility. Barriers identified were missing or unstable reimbursement policies by insurance companies and therapeutic software with guaranteed data security. Discussion Austrian therapists indicate a relatively high level of telehealth positivity, with an improvement in the course of the COVID-19 lockdown. However, therapists outline the need for stable reimbursement policies and secure software solutions.

Feasibility, Acceptability and Limitations of Speech and Language Telerehabilitation during COVID-19 Lockdown: A Qualitative Research Study on Clinicians’ Perspectives

“…The major issue was related to problems with patients' compliance, given the lack of physical contact between therapists and their patients. This study showed that the impersonality of care seems to be the biggest barrier for the implementation of telehealth systems, similar to findings reported in a study by Rettinger et al [15]. Another issue for the SLTs who delivered TR treatments during the lockdown was related to internet connection problems, which made treatments more difficult to provide, and negatively influenced the feasibility evaluation.…”

“…Authors found that therapists perceived the lack of professional training as a barrier to the implementation of teletherapy intervention, as well as a certain impersonality of care. Nearly half of the surveyed therapists reported that teletherapy is impersonal, and more than a half agreed that they urgently needed physical contact with their patients [15]. Indeed, clinicians' perspectives and opinions could differ from the results of previous research studies, mainly due to technology-specific issues and resistance to change from therapists [16].…”

Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation: Perception and Experience of Austrian Physiotherapists and Physiotherapy Students

“…In terms of age, gender and work specialization distribution, the sample of participants was similar to previous studies conducted in Austria [23,55]. The official registry of Austrian physiotherapists lists around 16,000 persons, half of them being self-employed therapists [34].…”

Physiotherapeutic evaluation of patients with post COVID-19 condition: current use of measuring instruments by physiotherapists working in Austria and South Tyrol

“…Another limitation is that the survey was accessible only online, which may exclude physiotherapists with lower technical affinity. In terms of gender, age and work specialization, the sample of respondents was similar to previous studies in Austria [60,61]. Due to the online setting, the study limitations also include the absence of a researcher.…”