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Management of Patients with Chronic Diseases with Virtual Rehabilitation, Telerehabilitation and Remote Monitoring

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Care Sciences & Services".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 13765

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sebastian Rutkowski

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, 45-758 Opole, Poland
Interests: virtual reality; exergaming; rehabilitation; physiotherapy; physical activity; pulmonary rehabilitation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Ladislav Batalik

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Rehabilitation, University Hospital Brno, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
Interests: telerehabilitation; telemedicine; home-based interventions; remote monitoring; mobile health; exercise testing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Remote monitoring of physical exercise through telecommunications technologies is increasingly available and reliable in the rehabilitation and prevention of public health. Remote monitoring of physical exercise provides an opportunity to deliver medical and preventive care in alternative methods, affecting barriers to utilization and improving access to quality rehabilitation services. Recently, due to the pandemic situation, the focus has shifted towards unsupervised or AI-supervised training programs. Thus, also opening up possibilities for the use of virtual reality (VR) for patients with internal disease. This technology continues to develop rapidly and gain a growing number of enthusiasts in different age categories. It is most often associated with entertainment, but it applies much more widely in other fields. The literature contains publications describing the possibility of using VR as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. The majority of the research on virtual rehabilitation focuses on neurorehabilitation. However, interest in this technology increases and extends to cardiac, pediatric, oncology, as well as pulmonary rehabilitation. Moreover, it has been shown that the use of virtual reality in the rehabilitation process changes patient engagement in therapy. This component seems to be crucial in the case of chronic patients.

This Special Issue is essential to summarize the current remote monitoring of physical exercise and telerehabilitation services and clarify the challenges and obstacles in this research area, likewise to present recent reports in the area of implementation of virtual rehabilitation in patients with internal diseases. Recent advances in technologies and new clinical applications provide an additional need to summarize and continue developing the existing literature in the field. It is recommended to send contributions presenting original research results, review papers, or innovative proof of concepts to remote telemonitoring of physical exercise, telerehabilitation, and virtual rehabilitation services in patients treated for chronic diseases and disabilities. Therefore, we will be looking for high-quality research in the areas of virtual reality rehabilitation, telerehabilitation, and remote exercise monitoring in patients treated for chronic diseases.

Dr. Sebastian Rutkowski
Dr. Ladislav Batalik
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

virtual reality
virtual rehabilitation
remote telemonitoring
telerehabilitation
telemedicine
mobile health
mHealth
wearable sensors
physical exercise
exercise testing
rehabilitation
mobile rehabilitation
chronic diseases
internal diseases
cardiac rehabilitation
pulmonary rehabilitation
cancer rehabilitation

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1314 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Visual Exploration through Augmented Gaze: High Acceptance of Immersive Virtual Biking by Oldest Olds

by Claudio de’Sperati, Vittorio Dalmasso, Michela Moretti, Emil Rosenlund Høeg, Gabriel Baud-Bovy, Roberto Cozzi and Jacopo Ippolito

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1671; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031671 - 17 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1441

Abstract

The diffusion of virtual reality applications dedicated to aging urges us to appraise its acceptance by target populations, especially the oldest olds. We investigated whether immersive virtual biking, and specifically a visuomotor manipulation aimed at improving visual exploration (augmented gaze), was well accepted by elders living in assisted residences. Twenty participants (mean age 89.8 years, five males) performed three 9 min virtual biking sessions pedalling on a cycle ergometer while wearing a Head-Mounted Display which immersed them inside a 360-degree pre-recorded biking video. In the second and third sessions, the relationship between horizontal head rotation and contingent visual shift was experimentally manipulated (augmented gaze), the visual shift being twice (gain = 2.0) or thrice (gain = 3.0) the amount of head rotation. User experience, motion sickness and visual exploration were measured. We found (i) very high user experience ratings, regardless of the gain; (ii) no effect of gain on motion sickness; and (iii) increased visual exploration (slope = +46%) and decreased head rotation (slope = −18%) with augmented gaze. The improvement in visual exploration capacity, coupled with the lack of intolerance signs, suggests that augmented gaze can be a valuable tool to improve the “visual usability” of certain virtual reality applications for elders, including the oldest olds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Patients with Chronic Diseases with Virtual Rehabilitation, Telerehabilitation and Remote Monitoring)

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14 pages, 1601 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adherence and Effect of Home-Based Rehabilitation with Telemonitoring Support in Patients with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Pilot Study

by Peter Krkoska, Daniela Vlazna, Michaela Sladeckova, Jitka Minarikova, Tamara Barusova, Ladislav Batalik, Filip Dosbaba, Stanislav Vohanka and Blanka Adamova

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1504; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021504 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1942

Abstract

Home-based exercises have been on the rise recently. This pilot study aimed to assess the adherence and effect of a home-based rehabilitation programme using telemonitoring in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP). Twenty-seven patients with CNLBP were enrolled in the study, each of whom underwent a neurological assessment, including patient-oriented measures and a functional assessment—a battery of tests that comprehensively evaluated trunk muscle function. The rehabilitation programme lasted 18 weeks and included daily home-based exercises. A mobile application or an exercise diary was used to monitor compliance. Adherence to the programme was excellent for both the diary and mobile application groups, with 82.3% in the diary group exercising at least once a day and 72.9% twice a day, and 94.8% in the mobile application group exercising at least once a day and 86.6% twice a day. Both patient-oriented and functional outcomes improved significantly; however, the relative changes of the parameters in these two groups did not correlate, which supports the idea that trunk muscle function does not directly relate to patient complaints and that CNLBP is a multifactorial issue. This model of rehabilitation programme should be used in clinical practice, as its adherence and effectiveness seem noticeable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Patients with Chronic Diseases with Virtual Rehabilitation, Telerehabilitation and Remote Monitoring)

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11 pages, 1497 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Expectations of Patients Recovering from SARS-CoV-2 towards New Forms of Pulmonary Rehabilitation

by Mariusz Migała, Bożena Płonka-Syroka, Krystyna Rasławska, Beata Skolik, Izabela Spielvogel, Katarzyna Piechota, Daria Hołodnik and Magdalena Hagner-Derengowska

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010104 - 21 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1304

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of patients attending an innovative technology-enhanced pulmonary rehabilitation program of National Health Found Program in Poland. The study included two groups of patients participating in post-COVID-19 stationary rehabilitation. Patients from group I (127 individuals) contracted COVID-19 in 2020, while patients from group II fell ill in 2021 (68 individuals). The study used a self-administered questionnaire. This study was designed as an acceptability study. In the experience related to COVID-19 in both groups of the respondents, the possibility of undertaking inpatient rehabilitation in a hospital ward played an important and positive role. Patients who experienced COVID-19 symptomatically expected that rehabilitation would eliminate the related dysfunctions, such as reduced respiratory efficiency of the lungs, disorders of the nervous system, and cognitive disorders (the so-called brain fog). All respondents who experienced symptomatic COVID-19 positively assessed the rehabilitation program offered. Among the highest-rated rehabilitation, elements were identified: exercise on a cycle ergometer implemented with video stimulation, group fitness exercises, and breathing exercises. Other innovative forms of rehabilitation were positively evaluated by 10% to 25% of patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Patients with Chronic Diseases with Virtual Rehabilitation, Telerehabilitation and Remote Monitoring)

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10 pages, 853 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Remote Support of Elderly Women Participating in Mental Health Promotion Programme during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Single-Group Longitudinal Intervention

by Karolina Juszko, Anna Serweta, Błażej Cieślik, Wojciech Idzikowski, Joanna Szczepańska-Gieracha and Robert Gajda

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 4073; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074073 - 29 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1886

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the longitudinal changes in mental well-being during the switch of the intervention from a personal contact to a remotely delivered Mental Health Prevention and Promotion Programme in elderly women at high risk of developing depression. The study included 70 women aged over 60 with a mean age of 72.28 years. In order to determine mental well-being, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used at four time points: January, April, September and December 2020. A self-developed questionnaire was used to determine predictors of mental well-being. Two-way ANOVA demonstrated a lack of significant differences between the means in the GDS scores at the four data collection time points (p = 0.21). Frequent use of green areas reduced the GDS score on average by 1.52 points (p = 0.01), while owning a garden by 1.51 points (p = 0.04). The illness of a family member increased the GDS score by an average of 1.7 points (p = 0.02). No significant mood deterioration was found between January 2020 and December 2020 in the studied group of elderly women at a high risk of developing depression, which suggests that the remote support provided in the mental health promotion programme was effective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Patients with Chronic Diseases with Virtual Rehabilitation, Telerehabilitation and Remote Monitoring)

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Review

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13 pages, 576 KiB

Open AccessReview

Telemedicine Interventions as an Attempt to Improve the Mental Health of Populations during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Narrative Review

by Anna Rutkowska

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 14945; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214945 - 13 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1875

Abstract

Published reports indicate the need for psychological interventions and the integration of psychiatric care into crisis management plans in people with mental health issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It seems crucial to identify the root causes of the health-social-economic crisis and identify potential opportunities for widely implemented psychological assistance. This narrative literature review aims to identify the types of interventions deployed as telemedicine-based mental health support and their effectiveness. The PubMed and Web of Science electronic databases were searched. From a total of 48 articles, 46 were analysed after removing duplicates. From these, thirty-seven records were excluded according to the inclusion criteria and nine (eight RCT and one cross-over) were assessed as full texts. The included publications were randomised clinical trials or cross-over studies focused on remote mental support interventions. In all studies, participants represented both sexes and had an average age range of 6–64. Studies included participants from seven countries and the overall number of participants in the included studies was 687. The content of these intervention programmes includes both established psychotherapeutic programmes, as well as new interventions. Remote support was implemented through three approaches: phone/video calls, mobile applications, and internet-based programs. The results of the included studies indicate a higher or equal efficacy of telemedicine interventions compared to traditional forms. The review also revealed a relatively wide range of targeted research groups: from children with social anxiety through to their caregivers; adolescents with neurological disorders; and from college students to adults with psychiatric or orthopaedic disorders. Analysis of the included papers found that telemedicine interventions show promising results as an attempt to improve population mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Patients with Chronic Diseases with Virtual Rehabilitation, Telerehabilitation and Remote Monitoring)

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11 pages, 1853 KiB

Open AccessReview

Use of Virtual Reality-Based Therapy in Patients with Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

by Anna Rutkowska, Silvia Salvalaggio, Sebastian Rutkowski and Andrea Turolla

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 6155; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106155 - 18 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2593

Abstract

It is estimated that over 400 million people worldwide experience some form of urinary incontinence (UI). Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is commonly used in cases of urine loss. Game therapy (GT) has been suggested as a new conservative modality for UI treatments. GT represents a form of virtual reality (VR) that allows users to interact with elements of a simulated scenario. The purpose of this review was to assess the potential of using VR-based PFMT in the treatment of UI with a particular focus on the impact of this form of therapy on the patients’ muscle function, symptoms of UI and quality of life (QoL). The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Web of Science. Systematic review methods were based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement. Electronic medical databases were searched from inception to 28 January 2021. From a total of 38 articles, 26 were analyzed after removing duplicates, then 22 records were excluded according to inclusion criteria and 4 were assessed as full texts. Finally, 2 randomized controlled trials (RCT) with 79 patients were included. For the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), the meta-analysis showed a significant difference in favor of the control condition (MD = 2.22; 95% CI 0.42, 4.01; I² = 0%). Despite the popularity of the use of VR in rehabilitation, we found a scarcity of literature evaluating the application of VR in the field of UI therapy. Only one study matched all of the criteria established. The effects of VR training improved PFM function and QoL; however, these changes were comparable to those of traditional PFMT. It is not possible to reach final conclusions from one study; thus, further development of VR interventions in the field of UI treatments are needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Patients with Chronic Diseases with Virtual Rehabilitation, Telerehabilitation and Remote Monitoring)

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Other

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19 pages, 4325 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Measurement Properties of Self-Report Questionnaires for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Commonly Used Instruments

by Maria Jose Sanchez-Andrades, Maria Jesus Vinolo-Gil, María Jesús Casuso-Holgado, Javier Barón-López, Manuel Rodríguez-Huguet and Rocío Martín-Valero

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3310; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043310 - 14 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1735

Abstract

(1) Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease. There is no evidence on the analysis of the measurement instruments available to assess quality of life in these patients, following the consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments (COSMIN) checklist; (2) Methods: A systematic review was performed in PubMed, Embase, PEDro, Web of Science and Cochrane. The psychometric properties of the questionnaires were determined by using the COSMIN checklist. Two searches were carried out. This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021249005); (3) Results: There were four published articles that analysed the measurement properties in patients with ALS for the following scales: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assessment Questionnaire 40, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire, Short Form 36 Healthy Survey, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Sickness Impact Profile. Another five scales also met the inclusion criteria: ALS-Depression-Inventory, State Trait Anxiety-Inventory, World Health Organization Quality of Life, Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assessment Questionnaire 5. Most Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) present a low-quality synthesis of evidence. It was observed an excellent pooled reliability of 0.92 (95% Confidence Interval: 0.83–0.96, I² = 87.3%) for four dimensions for questionnaires ALSAQ-40. (4) Conclusions: There is little evidence on generic instruments. Future studies are necessary to develop new tools. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Patients with Chronic Diseases with Virtual Rehabilitation, Telerehabilitation and Remote Monitoring)

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