Access to telerehabilitation: challenges experienced by people with spinal cord injury in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe medical condition that can result in long-term disability, significantly impacting an individual's mobility, independence, and quality of life. People with SCI in Bangladesh, as in many low and middle-income countries (LMICs), often face barriers to accessing effective rehabilitation services. Telerehabilitation, the use of telecommunication technology to deliver rehabilitation services remotely, has emerged as a potential solution to these access challenges. It allows individuals to receive therapy and support without needing to travel long distances, a significant advantage in countries like Bangladesh, where transportation infrastructure may be inadequate, and healthcare access is limited. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the challenges experienced by people with spinal cord injuries in accessing telerehabilitation services in Bangladesh. Methods: Eighty-five participants were selected for the study. Data was collected by using a self-designed questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Result: Eighty-five participants with spinal cord injury were interviewed in this study. Most of the participants 75.3% were unfamiliar with the term telerehabilitation. The major challenges found to access telerehabilitation services are the high cost of the internet 40%, digital illiteracy 22.4%, internet connection interruption due to poor network coverage 20%, and the high cost of smartphones 17.6%. The majority of the participants 97.6% reported video calls as their preferred mode of telerehabilitation. Conclusion: Telerehabilitation offers promise for SCI patients, yet barriers persist. Despite mobile and internet access, financial and digital literacy challenges limit effective use. To increase access to telerehabilitation services, targeted interventions might benefit in cases of digital illiteracy. Keywords: Bangladesh , Spinal cord injury , Telerehabilitation Word Count : 12550