Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39674991›Full record

ArticleJournal of occupational rehabilitation2026

What are the Perceptions and Lived Experiences of Canadian Injured Workers about the Provision of Physiotherapy Services using Telerehabilitation?

Anne Hudon, Maxi Miciak, Teri Slade, Stacey Lovo, Jackie L Whittaker, Daniel Côté, Debbie E Feldman, Dahlia Kairy, Marie Laberge, Beverley McKeen and 2 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Anne HudonÉcole de Réadaptation, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
Maxi MiciakFaculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Teri SladeFaculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1273-8593
Stacey LovoSchool of Rehabilitation Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Jackie L WhittakerDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia and Arthritis Research Canada, Vancouver, Canada.
Daniel CôtéDépartement d'anthropologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
Debbie E FeldmanÉcole de Réadaptation, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
Dahlia KairyÉcole de Réadaptation, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
Marie LabergeÉcole de Réadaptation, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
Beverley McKeenCanadian Injured Workers Alliance, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada.
Lynn CooperCanadian Injured Workers Alliance, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada.
Douglas P GrossDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta, 2-50 Corbett Hall, Edmonton, AB, T6A 1Z3, Canada. dgross@ualberta.ca.

Funding

WorkSafeBC RS2020-SP20
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeDespite evidence of efficacy, the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in real-world clinical settings is still largely unknown. Telerehabilitation requires a substantial transformation of the organization and delivery of traditional services. Considering that a virtual setting can create unique challenges for providing physiotherapy services and given the physical and potential hands-on nature of evidence-based assessments and interventions, it is important to investigate what injured workers think of receiving physiotherapy care via telerehabilitation and to examine if rehabilitation needs are adequately met.

methodsA qualitative interpretive description study was conducted to explore the perspectives and experiences of 17 injured workers receiving physiotherapy via telerehabilitation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with participants from three provinces in Western Canada and analysed using thematic analysis. Qualitative rigour criteria of epistemological integrity, analytic logic, interpretive authority, and representative credibility were considered throughout this study.

resultsImplementation of telerehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in mixed perceptions from injured workers. Some viewed telerehabilitation as a resourceful option for providing services during the pandemic lockdown, resulting in maintained communications while overcoming barriers to services (e.g., rural/remote workers, transportation barriers, etc.). However, many thought telerehabilitation was inferior to in-person therapy for assessment and when 'hands-on' interaction was needed. Many believed a hybrid option may be ideal now that pandemic restrictions are lifted, with telerehabilitation supplementing in-person physiotherapy when needed.

conclusionsTelerehabilitation was viewed as a resourceful option during the pandemic and in certain clinical situations (e.g., rural/remote). Workers should be able to make informed choices about service delivery format.

Indexed as

Occupational InjuriesPhysical Therapy ModalitiesTelerehabilitationAdultCanadaCOVID-19FemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsQualitative ResearchSARS-CoV-2AccessibilityCompensation and redressPhysiotherapyRehabilitationTelehealth

Identifiers

PMID39674991

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.