Telerehabilitation in Aotearoa

Abstract

Telerehabilitation is a niche area of telehealth, where people are engaged over a prolonged period. Research and guidelines commonly position telerehabilitation as an alternative to in-person care and focus on efficacy and modifying interventions for remote delivery. The more nuanced aspects of practice (e.g. engagement, culturally responsive practice, therapeutic relationship) have not been addressed, despite being critical to outcome. Further, while telerehabilitation can enhance service access for some, it has the potential to exacerbate (or introduce) inequities for others. Our aim is to explore the experiences and perspectives of people, whānau, and providers and work with them to co-produce tools to optimise the provision of telerehabilitation. We will draw on He Awa Whiria, a model for integrating kaupapa Māori and Western Science to ensure knowledge equity in our research process and findings and inform the implementation of equity-oriented and culturally-responsive telerehabilitation practice and policy that is unique to Aotearoa. This project is a collaboration between Manawaora – The Centre for Health, Habit Rehabilitation, Good Health Design and the AUT Person-Centred Rehabilitation Research Centre. More resources and information at https://cpcr.aut.ac.nz/our-research/telerehabilitation-in-aotearoa