Skip to main content

Table 3 The following proportions are reported: patient groups involved with remote physiotherapy (n = 332); forms of support deemed useful by physiotherapists who provided remote therapies during the lockdown (n = 332, 44.6%); reasons for not providing remote physiotherapy (n = 368, 49.6%)

From: Physiotherapists’ use and perceptions of digital remote physiotherapy during COVID-19 lockdown in Switzerland: an online cross-sectional survey

Patient groups involved with remote physiotherapy

Counts (n)

Percent (%)

Musculoskeletal disorders

226

68.1%

COVID-19 risk groupa

206

62.0%

Pediatrics

73

22.0%

Geriatrics

63

19.0%

Neuromotor

53

16.0%

Internal organs and vessels

25

7.5%

Patients with COVID-19

22

6.6%

Others

34

10.2%

Information on digital technology deemed useful by physiotherapists

Counts

Percent

Knowledge about infrastructures

289

98.9%

Smartphone applications (apps)

133

45.5%

Law and data protection

214

73.3%

Settlement with cost units (invoice)

225

77.1%

Federal and Cantonal ordinances

218

74.7%

Knowledge about needs of patients

99

33.9%

Knowledge of patient’s requirements (technical)

93

31.8%

Effectiveness of remote therapy

62

21.2%

Communication methods

130

44.5%

Examination and treatment process

105

36.0%

Suitable methods

94

32.2%

Other

143

49.0%

Reasons for not providing remote physiotherapy

Counts

Percent

I was able to provide my patients with sufficient care in another way

99

26.9%

I miss the tactile control/possibility of manual support

63

17.1%

The necessary infrastructure is missing for me or my patients

47

12.8%

Remote physiotherapy is not adequately reimbursed

37

10.1%

I cannot observe the patient adequately

24

6.5%

The technical possibilities are unknown to me or my patients

12

3.3%

Other reasons

86

23.3%

  1. apersons over 65 years of age and/or previous illnesses such as chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and/or with a weakened immune system