A Sustainable Approach to Telerehabilitation in Europe: Patients Are Ready, but Caregivers Are Essential.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of telerehabilitation. However, it remains unclear what proportion of people in need of rehabilitation can confidently use telecommunications networks and related devices.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to estimate the proportion of patients who possess either the requisite digital literacy to perform telerehabilitation independently or have a family caregiver capable of providing effective support.

METHODS: Synthetic populations with a realistic kinship network (i.e. family trees) representative of European countries are built. Age, sex, and location-specific prevalence rates of rehabilitation needs and digital skills are combined to estimate the percentage of digitally literate patients and patients with digitally literate relatives.

RESULTS: In Europe, 86% of people in need of rehabilitation are potentially eligible for telerehabilitation. However, in four out of five cases, eligible patients over the age of 65 require caregiver support.

CONCLUSION: Telerehabilitation has the potential to spread in Europe. Caregivers have an essential social role in ensuring sustainable access to telerehabilitation.