Table 3.
The following proportions are reported: patient groups involved with remote physiotherapy (n = 332); forms of support deemed useful by physiotherapists who provided remote therapies during the lockdown (n = 332, 44.6%); reasons for not providing remote physiotherapy (n = 368, 49.6%)
| Patient groups involved with remote physiotherapy | Counts (n) | Percent (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal disorders | 226 | 68.1% |
| COVID-19 risk groupa | 206 | 62.0% |
| Pediatrics | 73 | 22.0% |
| Geriatrics | 63 | 19.0% |
| Neuromotor | 53 | 16.0% |
| Internal organs and vessels | 25 | 7.5% |
| Patients with COVID-19 | 22 | 6.6% |
| Others | 34 | 10.2% |
| Information on digital technology deemed useful by physiotherapists | Counts | Percent |
| Knowledge about infrastructures | 289 | 98.9% |
| Smartphone applications (apps) | 133 | 45.5% |
| Law and data protection | 214 | 73.3% |
| Settlement with cost units (invoice) | 225 | 77.1% |
| Federal and Cantonal ordinances | 218 | 74.7% |
| Knowledge about needs of patients | 99 | 33.9% |
| Knowledge of patient’s requirements (technical) | 93 | 31.8% |
| Effectiveness of remote therapy | 62 | 21.2% |
| Communication methods | 130 | 44.5% |
| Examination and treatment process | 105 | 36.0% |
| Suitable methods | 94 | 32.2% |
| Other | 143 | 49.0% |
| Reasons for not providing remote physiotherapy | Counts | Percent |
| I was able to provide my patients with sufficient care in another way | 99 | 26.9% |
| I miss the tactile control/possibility of manual support | 63 | 17.1% |
| The necessary infrastructure is missing for me or my patients | 47 | 12.8% |
| Remote physiotherapy is not adequately reimbursed | 37 | 10.1% |
| I cannot observe the patient adequately | 24 | 6.5% |
| The technical possibilities are unknown to me or my patients | 12 | 3.3% |
| Other reasons | 86 | 23.3% |
apersons over 65 years of age and/or previous illnesses such as chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and/or with a weakened immune system