This study aims to explore how patient preferences for telerehabilitation or in-person consultations are influenced by attributes of physiotherapy consultations and patient demographics.
A binary discrete choice experiment was utilised. Participants chose between telerehabilitation and in-person consultations across 12 hypothetical scenarios, each with a different combination of attributes related to each choice. The primary outcome measures were attributes related to the choice between telerehabilitation and in-person consultations, namely: appointment duration, cost, travel distance, purpose, therapist, time of day and wait time. Statistical analysis used conditional logit models and demographic data were collected to analyse the impact of these factors on preferences.
152 participants (76% women; median age of 32) who had attended physiotherapy consultations were recruited for the study. Most (90%) participants were comfortable with technology and primarily used mobile or tablet devices. Patients preferred telerehabilitation when travel distance to the in-person alternative was 20km or 35km relative to 5km, when appointment was 15 minutes, scheduled in the afternoon, or when the wait time was shorter (1 day or 1 week relative to 1 month). Preference for telerehabilitation appointments increased among people in inner regional versus urban areas or with high-speed internet, but was decreased among people with chronic health conditions.
Preferences for telerehabilitation consultations were higher for shorter sessions where the in-person alternative was some distance away, as well as among patients with high-speed internet, particularly from inner regional areas. Chronic health conditions decreased preference for telerehabilitation.
These findings offer potential insights for tailoring of physiotherapy service delivery to fit diverse patient preferences to better engage patients and improve care. By identifying key factors such as appointment duration, travel distance, and demographic characteristics, healthcare providers can tailor options for rehabilitation services to improve accessibility and satisfaction. Integrating these insights into policy and practice can optimise rehabilitation delivery and service utilisation.
digital health
