Tele-rehabilitation for patients who have been hospitalised with Covid-19: a mixed-methods feasibility trial protocol

Hyde, Lucy; Simpson, Andrew J; Nettleton, Marion; Shepherdson, Joanne; Killingback, Clare; Marshall, Phil; Crooks, Michael G.; Green, Angela

Abstract

Background: Tele-rehabilitation has been proposed as a post-hospitalisation rehabilitation pathway for Covid-19 survivors, however patients’ willingness and ability to engage with this online intervention remains unknown. Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of tele-rehabilitation in this population, specifically with regards to recruitment, intervention acceptability and adherence, data quality and primary outcome measure selection. Methods: A protocol for a single centre, fast-track (wait-list), randomised mixed-methods, feasibility trial of tele-rehabilitation for patients that have been hospitalised with Covid-19 is presented. The tele-rehabilitation programme is based on pulmonary rehabilitation principles and will encompass an initial assessment followed by twice-weekly exercise classes and education sessions for 6 weeks. Six educational sessions on the topics of rehabilitation from Covid-19; coping with breathlessness; exercise; nutrition; return to work; and fatigue management will be delivered by a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals. A series of feasibility, clinical and safety outcomes will be quantitively described and patient experiences and opinions explored using thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews. Discussion: We anticipate that results from the study will inform a multi-centre randomised controlled trial for post-Covid-19 tele-rehabilitation and the results from the qualitative analysis may provide guidance to improve participant experience.

Citation

Hyde, L., Simpson, A. J., Nettleton, M., Shepherdson, J., Killingback, C., Marshall, P., Crooks, M. G., & Green, A. (2022). Tele-rehabilitation for patients who have been hospitalised with Covid-19: a mixed-methods feasibility trial protocol. Physical Therapy Reviews, https://doi.org/10.1080/10833196.2022.2028963

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 9, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Mar 28, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 29, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 29, 2023
• Journal: Physical Therapy Reviews
• Print ISSN: 1083-3196
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10833196.2022.2028963
• Keywords: Covid-19; Tele-rehabilitation; Pulmonary rehabilitation; Long-Covid; Post-Covid-19 syndrome
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3957935