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Telerehabilitation in the Transitional Care of Patients with Sequelae Associated with COVID-19: Perception of Portuguese Nurses

Reis, N.; Dias, M.J.C.; Sousa, L.; Agostinho, I.; Ricco, M.T.; Henriques, M.A.; Baixinho, C.L.

Thematic Area
Organization of national health service, Management, Rehabilitation paths
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic brought many changes and challenges to health professionals, due to a lack of knowledge when dealing with the disease, fear of contagion, and the sequelae that characterize long COVID. To deal with this situation, respiratory rehabilitation programs are recommended in face-to-face and/or telerehabilitation modalities. (1) Background: This study had as its primary aim identifying the aspects/components to be considered in the planning and implementation of telerehabilitation interventions that guarantee transitional care for people with long COVID-19 after hospitalization and as a secondary aim identifying the positive aspects of telerehabilitation. (2) Methods: The method used to answer the research question was a focus group, carried out online with eight nurses specialized in rehabilitation nursing. The answers to the semi-structured interview were subjected to content analysis, and qualitative data analysis software (WebQDA®) was used to organize and analyze the findings. (3) Results: Four categories emerged from the content analysis: coordination between care levels; transitional care telerehabilitation intervention; advantages of telerehabilitation; and opportunities. (4) Conclusions: These findings make an important contribution to the reorganization of transitional care, allowing the identification of central aspects to be considered in the planning and implementation of telerehabilitation programs for people with long COVID.
Relevance
This paper identifies telehealth as a tool which, due to a pandemic context as Covid-19, allows not only greater proximity to patients, decreases hospital visits and reduce the risk of infections, but also to keep a proximity between hospital health teams and primary health care. It also highlights the importance of face-to-face moments which are important for the assessment of specific programs, considering respiratory rehabilitation programs, teaching, training, self-care training, and physical exercise training.
Keywords
COVID-19; pandemic; long COVID; transitional care; eHealth strategies; nursing; rehabilitation