Objective: This study aimed to explore the perceptions of occupational therapists and physical therapists, working in primary care settings, concerning the use of eHealth methods in the rehabilitation of patients with chronic and progressive disease.

Background: eHealth offers the potential to increase accessibility to evidence-based rehabilitation to the growing number of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) (1, 2). We hypothesize that hybrid care models – whereby clinic-based visits transition to digitally supported home visits – are the most practical means to enable the adoption eHealth methods. With this vision in mind, health care workers are facing a paradigm shift in translating work processes towards remote care for people with PD.  Understanding how health professionals perceive eHealth use is essential to informing future implementation of digital methods which facilitate PD rehabilitation in primary care.

Method: This qualitative interview study explores healthcare provider perspectives using interview technique. 7 semi-structured focus-group interviews were performed across two clinical sites, among 33 allied health professionals (15 occupational therapists and 18 physical therapist) with varying eHealth experience. Interviews were guided by a semi-structured interview guide. The interview guide was developed by integrating specific constructs from the Consolidated Framework of Implementation research (CFIR) (3). Data was analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis.

Results: The analysis resulted in the development of four main themes, incorporating 11 categories. The main themes are When technology limits understanding patient complexity; Safeguarding professional identity in the digital era; Questioning age-related assumptions about digital competence and Providing eHealth amid uncertainty. Alongside the perceived opportunities that eHealth can offer older adults with evolving digital competency, healthcare professionals working with older adults also perceive technology as a threat to providing holistic care and a potential constraint on professional integrity and fulfilment.

Conclusion: The expansion of digital rehabilitation creates a tension for healthcare professionals between preserving professional identity and adapting to digital methods that may restrict the use of their full clinical competencies.

References: 1: Zampolini M, Oral A, Barotsis N, et al. Evidence-based position paper on Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) professional practice on telerehabilitation. The European PRM position (UEMS PRM Section). Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2024;60(2):165-181.

2: Darbandsari P, Pescatello LS, Piscitelli D, Smith JM, Ugolini A, Colon-Semenza C. Effect of Telerehabilitation in Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Phys Ther. 2025 Nov 3;105(11).

3: Damschroder LJ, Aron DC, Keith RE, Kirsh SR, Alexander JA, Lowery JC. Fostering implementation of health services research findings into practice: a consolidated framework for advancing implementation science. Implement Sci. 2009;4:50.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/healthcare-professionals-perceptions-of-using-ehealth-in-the-rehabilitation-of-progressive-disease-a-qualitative-study/