None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this research is to ascertain whether physiotherapy exercise programs provided via Telerehabilitation are as effective as current standard face to face outpatient physiotherapy exercise programs with respect to clinical outcomes for patients with burn injuries post hospital admission. Males or Females aged 18 years or greater who are admitted to the Professor Stuart Pegg Adult Burn Unit, RBWH with a total body surface area partial or full thickness burn injury (%TBSA) of < 25% are eligible for this study. Participants must have access to an internet-enabled computer, tablet or mobile device with web camera / video streaming capability within their own home Study Details - Baseline outcome measures will be collected at discharge from hospital and then the participant will then be randomised to either the Telerehabilitation Physiotherapy group or the Standard Care Outpatient Physiotherapy group. Each of the groups will receive a burn specific physiotherapy exercise program over a 6 week period but the Telerehabilitation group will receive this exercise training using the ehab telehealth system delivered via the internet into their own home and the standard care groups will receive their exercise programs via a face to face outpatient appointment. All groups will be expected to continue an independent home exercise program. Outcome measures will be collected at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks post baseline. These measures will include health related quality of life, range of motion, muscle strength, pain, scar assessment and self efficacy for exercise. Information will also be collected on both participant and therapist satisfaction with the telerehabilitation service. It is hoped that telerehabilitation will prove a viable alternative method for the delivery of exercise programs after burn injury.
Interventions
The intervention will consist of a Physiotherapy exercise program conducted using a telerehabilitation medium after discharge from a hospital admission for a burn injury. Participants in this group will be provided with a home exercise program to continue independently 3 to 5 times per day. Exercise sheets are provided that are individualised per participant based on location of burn injury and the functional level of the participant eg burn to posterior calf, calf stretches prescribed. An ex
The intervention will consist of a Physiotherapy exercise program conducted using a telerehabilitation medium after discharge from a hospital admission for a burn injury. Participants in this group will be provided with a home exercise program to continue independently 3 to 5 times per day. Exercise sheets are provided that are individualised per participant based on location of burn injury and the functional level of the participant eg burn to posterior calf, calf stretches prescribed. An exercise DVD entitled “Stretching your limits” will also be provided. This DVD was produced by the RBWH Burn unit and is available free of charge to patients but is available for purchase to external parties through Queensland Health. In addition to this, participants will be provided with a maximum of up to two (2) Telerehabilitation link up sessions per week into the patient’s home conducted by a Burns trained Physiotherapist. The Telerehabilitation sessions will include the provision of an appropriate exercise program consisting of burn specific stretching and strengthening exercises which will be tailormade for the participant based on the location of the burn and the functional level of the participant. The participant will also receive appropriate education and advice. The telerehabilitation sessions will be 60 minutes in duration. The participant will continue this exercise program for a six (6) week period. The Telerehabilitation intervention will utilise eHAB® (NeoRehab, Brisbane, Australia), a clinically validated telerehabilitation system whose software platform allows multi-point groups and individual assessments. eHAB has been previously validated for limb measurements and ROM in musculoskeletal assessments. A telehealth administration officer will complete a test call to trouble shoot problems with the device or any software or internet connection issues prior to the initial patient interaction. After each Telerehabilitation link up, the Burn Physiotherapist will send an email to the patient with a summary of the treatment plan and any additional aids to encourage the ongoing home exercise program. The participants are required to keep a home exercise diary to highlight how often per day they complete their exercise program.
Sponsors
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Physiotherapy Department
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Patients eligible for inclusion in this study will be • Male or Female • Age > 18 years • Admitted to the Professor Stuart Pegg Adult Burn Unit, RBWH with a total body surface area burn injury (%TBSA) of < 25%. • Depth of Burn injury is Partial or Full thickness burn ie requiring > 14 days to heal conservatively or required a split skin graft for healing. • Area of Burn is over a joint or includes the face, neck or trunk and requires Physiotherapy intervention for contracture prevention and management • Has access to an internet-enabled computer, tablet or mobile device with web camera / video streaming capability within their own home
Exclusion criteria
Patients for whom English is not their primary language and would require an accredited interpreter Patients with significant visual, hearing, language or cognitive deficits Patients with concomitant medical conditions that may prevent them from safely completing an exercise program and that may influence the rehabilitation process eg recent myocardial infarction, severe pulmonary disease, concomitant musculoskeletal or neurological conditions
Outcome results
None listed