Abstract:

Online rehabilitation has gained added value in the time of COVID 19 pandemics. Telerehabilitation is a viable strategy in total hip arthroplasty, in particular as it is a known fact that classic physical therapy contributes to post-discharge costs representing more than 35% of payments for total joint arthroplasty procedures. Several studies demonstrate that telerehabilitation is at least as effective as traditional face-to-face physical therapy after primary total joint arthroplasty. In addition, patients in the study reported being satisfied with the experience of using telerehabilitation. However, there is little research on physical therapists' perspectives on the use of mHealth in their current or future practice. The purpose of this paper is to explore the attitudes of Romanian physiotherapists regarding online therapy in total hip arthroplasty (TA).

Method:
120 Romanian physiokinesitherapists (FKT) completed an online screening tool that contained, along with a socio-demographic questionnaire, five questions about:
a) familiarity with the concept of online therapy ;
b) the use of i online therapy in the concrete activity;
c) the desire to use the therapy in the future.

The results indicate a stronger preference in specialists with a higher educational level (master's, doctorate) compared to those with a post-secondary level and bachelor's degree and in specialists working in the private sector (compared to those working in the public sector). The results of this research can serve to design continuing professional training programs of rehabilitation professionals in Romania in the sense of their preparation for alternating face-to-face therapy with online therapy depending on the condition of their patients/clients.

Keywords:

Online, telerehabilitation, hip replacement.