C.R. Rimando1, A.J. Callejo-Tiuseco1, K.E. Sosa1, Y.M. Bergonio1, M.A. Cordero Sy1, C.A. Crespo1, H. Lim1, L.J. Mallari1, C.J. Santos1, F.L. Sto. Domingo1, S.K. Zabarte1
1University of Santo Tomas, Department of Physical Therapy, Manila City, Philippines
Background: Hypertension is a leading risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases worldwide and isprevalent in older adults aged at least 55 to 65 years old, specifically 60 years old in the
Philippines, based on the 2018 Philippine Health Statistics. High incidences of hypertension then indicate the need for the more practical delivery of rehabilitative interventions for individuals with hypertension, particularly during the pandemic. Telerehabilitation provides such services virtually. Barriers to telerehabilitation implementation still exist locally. Such barriers pertain to the term "readiness," which pertains to acceptance, access, and skills. Hypertension-specific and telerehabilitation studies from communities like Rizal and Laguna are still scarce where technological resources and accessibility assessment for telerehabilitation have not been established.
Philippines, based on the 2018 Philippine Health Statistics. High incidences of hypertension then indicate the need for the more practical delivery of rehabilitative interventions for individuals with hypertension, particularly during the pandemic. Telerehabilitation provides such services virtually. Barriers to telerehabilitation implementation still exist locally. Such barriers pertain to the term "readiness," which pertains to acceptance, access, and skills. Hypertension-specific and telerehabilitation studies from communities like Rizal and Laguna are still scarce where technological resources and accessibility assessment for telerehabilitation have not been established.
Purpose: The objectives were to determine the readiness among older adults with hypertension in urban and rural communities in terms of acceptance of telerehabilitation, accessibility to technological resources, and technological literacy, and determine the relationship of readiness with the following: socio-demographic variables, perception,technological literacy, and available resources.
Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study collected data through an online survey using the Web-Based Patient-Reported Outcomes Capture System-Needs, Acceptance, and Readiness Assessments questionnaire. Purposive sampling was used through the assistance of partner communities from UST Simbahayan. Relationships between independent (socio-demographics and readiness) and dependent variables (acceptance) were analyzed through robust regression(p-value<0.05; r2=0.3156; AIC=-177.64; BIC=-146.05) using STATA.
Results: The majority of older adults (n=174) were female and had secondary schooling. The overall acceptance of telerehabilitation was measured through a 4-point Likert scale (Mean= 3.42; Median= 3.57; SD=0.51). In terms of readiness, the majority have computer access, and internet access at home, but have a frequency of use of less than a month. Younger age increased acceptance by 0.5% while being a college graduate increased acceptance by 13%. Living in Laguna and Rizal also increased acceptance by 13% and 26%, respectively. In contrast with past studies, this research revealed that frequency of ICT use and Internet accessare not predictive of acceptance of telerehabilitation.
Conclusions: Younger age, higher educational attainment, place of residence, and computer access at home were predictive of acceptance of telerehabilitation. The results suggest the need to include other quantitative aspects of telerehabilitation readiness. The findings of the study may aid in identifying the readiness of other communities in receiving telerehabilitationand addressing the barriers to telerehabilitation implementation.
Implications: Suggestions for improving the readiness of both Binangonan and Sibulan include educating the stakeholders and community-based workers on the basics of telerehabilitation. At the level of community members, exposure to seminars and training on technological literacy may increase their knowledge and skills in using technology to access healthcare services. Participating in the mentioned activities may increase the OAT and the readiness of residents from Sibulan to receive telerehabilitation. At the national and local government levels, the provision of enough facilities and resources for both partner communities is needed to support the extensiveimplementation of telerehabilitation in the region.
Funding acknowledgements: This research was funded by the UST-Simbahayan Development Office as a community-engaged research project.
Keywords:
Hypertension
Telerehabilitation
Older adults
Hypertension
Telerehabilitation
Older adults
Topics:
Primary health care
Older people
Cardiorespiratory
Primary health care
Older people
Cardiorespiratory
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: University of Santo Tomas
Committee: College of Rehabilitation Sciences Ethics Review Committee
Ethics number: SI-2020-042-R1
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
