TY - JOUR
T1 - Remote rehabilitation (telerehabilitation) in the sight loss sector
T2 - Reflections on challenges and opportunities from service providers in the United Kingdom
AU - Jones, Lee
AU - Lee, Matthew
AU - Gomes, Renata S. M.
N1 - Funding information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Thomas Pocklington Trust, grant number TP-211.
PY - 2024/9/1
Y1 - 2024/9/1
N2 - Background: Vision rehabilitation services are increasingly being delivered remotely (i.e., telerehabilitation); yet, limited research has explored practitioners’ attitudes towards this approach or considered the wider implications of re-designing services. This qualitative study investigates perspectives on delivering telerehabilitation among sight loss support organisations. Methods: Twelve participants from 9 sight loss charities in the United Kingdom took part in a semi-structured interview. Participants were professionals from large national rehabilitation service providers ( n = 5), regional charities ( n = 3), or local community organisations ( n = 4). Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were identified (1) Delivery of telerehabilitation; (2) Opportunities associated with telerehabilitation; (3) challenges associated with telerehabilitation; and (4) wider challenges in the vision rehabilitation sector. Greater utilisation of telerehabilitation was viewed positively; however, questions arose regarding cost-effectiveness and the appropriateness of this method of service delivery. Factors such as workforce decline, access to training, and understanding of vision rehabilitation were identified as wider problems affecting the future landscape of vision rehabilitation. Conclusion: Digital innovation has facilitated local and national organisations to provide largely successful and accessible telerehabilitation services. Wider challenges call for investment in strategies and policies to ensure people with visual impairment can continue to benefit from vision rehabilitation services.
AB - Background: Vision rehabilitation services are increasingly being delivered remotely (i.e., telerehabilitation); yet, limited research has explored practitioners’ attitudes towards this approach or considered the wider implications of re-designing services. This qualitative study investigates perspectives on delivering telerehabilitation among sight loss support organisations. Methods: Twelve participants from 9 sight loss charities in the United Kingdom took part in a semi-structured interview. Participants were professionals from large national rehabilitation service providers ( n = 5), regional charities ( n = 3), or local community organisations ( n = 4). Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were identified (1) Delivery of telerehabilitation; (2) Opportunities associated with telerehabilitation; (3) challenges associated with telerehabilitation; and (4) wider challenges in the vision rehabilitation sector. Greater utilisation of telerehabilitation was viewed positively; however, questions arose regarding cost-effectiveness and the appropriateness of this method of service delivery. Factors such as workforce decline, access to training, and understanding of vision rehabilitation were identified as wider problems affecting the future landscape of vision rehabilitation. Conclusion: Digital innovation has facilitated local and national organisations to provide largely successful and accessible telerehabilitation services. Wider challenges call for investment in strategies and policies to ensure people with visual impairment can continue to benefit from vision rehabilitation services.
KW - Rehabilitation
KW - telerehabilitation
KW - vision impairment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85166178958&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/02646196231188634
DO - 10.1177/02646196231188634
M3 - Article
SN - 0264-6196
VL - 42
SP - 816
EP - 831
JO - British Journal of Visual Impairment
JF - British Journal of Visual Impairment
IS - 3
ER -