Design:

Systematic reviews (phase 1), randomized (individual patient or clustered), or quasi-randomized controlled trials (phase 2 and phase 3)

Participants:

Adults requiring allied health intervention

Intervention: allied health intervention delivered via telehealth At least one allied health professional (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology, neuropsychology, or podiatry) providing an intervention

The intervention could also include allied health professionals other than those specified above The intervention could include a mix of telehealth and face-to-face with or without additional technology, such as virtual reality, smartphone applications, or personal computer/tablet programs Location may include the participant’s home (community), or another hospital (not co-located)

Comparison: face-to-face allied health intervention Delivered by at least one allied health professional: physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech pathologist, psychologist, neuropsychologist, and/or podiatrist

Comparable dose and type of intervention were provided to the intervention and comparator groups (e.g., one hour of weekly face-to-face strength training versus telehealth strength training)

Outcome measures:

Outcome measures reported at pre-treatment and treatment completion with or without follow-up for up to 12 months

Patient level outcomes were measured against the International Classification of Functioning Codes (World Health Organization, 2009) relevant to neuropsychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology, and speech pathology The primary outcome was independence assessed post-intervention, encompassing self-care, mobility, and/or participation domains. Any assessment tools were included Secondary outcomes included self-care, mobility (e.g., walking speed, functional ambulation category), balance, upper extremity function, language and communication, cognition, and depression (global measures) Program duration, participant satisfaction with the intervention; self-reported Health-Related Quality of Life; and adverse events (including falls, hospital use) Feasibility of telehealth

Exclusion criteria:

Trials where more than 20% of the participants were aged younger than 18 years, or the sample was receiving obstetric or peri-natal treatment, or interventions addressing drug, tobacco, or alcohol use (to limit the scope of rapid review) Trials comparing telehealth methods without a face-to-face intervention comparison group

Trials published in any language other than English as the translation was not available Trials comparing two different types of intervention (e.g., education face-to-face versus active therapy via telehealth)

Trials evaluating allied health assessment or monitoring only with no intervention Trials where the allied health professional providing the telehealth intervention was co-located Online-only/computer-based programs without the involvement of allied health professionals (e.g., computer-based independent exercise program) Interventions that include medical, nursing, or non-listed allied health/pharmacy professionals where the effects of the intervention component delivered by the allied health professional cannot be isolated from the interventions provided by the other professional group/s Interventions delivered by an allied health or rehabilitation assistant without clear supervision or delegation from an allied health professional