Authors (including presenting author) :
CHEUNG P(1), CHEUNG YC(1), KWOK HM(1), TSANG KY(1) , CHAN YL(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Occupational Therapy Department, Kowloon Hospital
Introduction :
Neurological diseases impact patients' physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functions. Up to 50% stroke survivors may face psychological disorders (Hildebrand, 2015), and some resist community reintegration despite rehabilitation efforts (Lutz et al., 2011). To address these challenges, a preparatory class was launched in 2015 to educate patients and families about neuroplasticity, home training, and community resources.
Advancements in tele-rehabilitation have improved service efficiency by connecting hospital discharge with outpatient care (Sarfo et al., 2018). Since 2022, the preparatory class has transitioned to tele-modules, enhancing patients' understanding of disease management and importance of home training, effectively meeting rehabilitation needs and clarifying the rehab journey.
Objectives :
This study aims to evaluate tele-module preparatory class's effectiveness in: (i) enhancing understanding and commitment to occupational therapy (OT) rehab program; (ii) empowering patients in rehab management at home and in community; (iii) facilitating realistic goal-setting for community reintegration; and (iv) helping patients understand community health care services within medical-social collaboration framework.
Methodology :
This pre-post intervention study involved patients with acquired brain diseases who completed face-to-face assessments and received guidance on potential complications (e.g., shoulder malalignment, pain) before engaging in distal exercise practice. Participants were able to use tele-module independently or with caregiver support, follow instructions, and access devices compatible with “HAGo App” and Zoom. Exclusion criteria include those without smart device or cannot access the tele-system.
The intervention consisted of four 60-minute sessions via HAGo Telehealth module, focusing on enhancing understanding of stroke, introducing occupational therapy-based neurological rehabilitation, and providing education on spasticity management. These sessions also addressed upper limb functional training, clarify patient roles in rehabilitation, and facilitate realistic goal-setting.
The primary outcome measure was self-evaluation questionnaire assessing participants' satisfaction and understanding of tele-program content.
Result & Outcome :
Total of 31 occupational therapy outpatients participated with average age of 55.39 years, average time since stroke onset was 40.8 months, and average Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score 101.35.
Significant improvements in participants' understanding and commitment to the OT program were noted, with a 22.2% average score increase on self-evaluations (p < 0.050). Orientation session duration decreased from 100 minutes to 60 minutes in the tele-group format, indicating enhanced patient satisfaction and engagement while empowering home rehabilitation and community reintegration efficiently.
