Novel use of existing technology: A preliminary study of patient portal use for telerehabilitation

Patient portals (PPs) foster engagement and self-management of chronic disease and are emerging as extensions of the care continuum. Utilisation from a health service delivery perspective is growing; however, it is a relatively new model of care in the field of rehabilitation. This pilot, within a larger randomised controlled stroke rehabilitation trial, explored the feasibility and acceptance of secure messaging using an established nationwide PP system for e-visits. Fifteen participants with stroke-related arm disability were randomised to 6 weeks of home arm telerehabilitation. All were over the age of 60 and 73% lived with a spouse or significant other. Mean intervention time was 6.8 weeks, and participants sent 2.3 +/- 1.4 messages per week to complete 15.1 h of reported therapy (prescribed therapy = 18 h). Portal use improved therapist efficiency and resulted in a 1:6 therapist to patient exercise time ratio compared with the conventional 1:1 ratio for in-person therapy. Low initial electronic health literacy, self-efficacy or cognitive scores did not prohibit utilisation, and satisfaction with secure messaging for patient-therapist communication was 3.5 +/- 1.2 out of 5. Overall, PP-supported e-visits were a feasible and acceptable telerehabilitation care delivery method for this chronic stroke population.