Jul 09, 2020
A scoping review of “remote” rehabilitation interventions to address COVID-19 sequalae
- Julie Whitney1,
- Lindsay Bearne1,
- Patrick White1,
- Arietta Spinou1,
- Emma Godfrey1,
- Matthew O'Connell1,
- Julia Fox-Rushby1,
- Graham Fisher2,
- Katie Sheehan1
- 1King's College London, University of London;
- 2Patient representative
Protocol Citation: Julie Whitney, Lindsay Bearne, Patrick White, Arietta Spinou, Emma Godfrey, Matthew O'Connell, Julia Fox-Rushby, Graham Fisher, Katie Sheehan 2020. A scoping review of “remote” rehabilitation interventions to address COVID-19 sequalae. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.bh9aj92e
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: In development
We are still developing and optimizing this protocol
Created: July 06, 2020
Last Modified: July 09, 2020
Protocol Integer ID: 38914
Abstract
Plain English Summary
Many people who have been unwell with COVID-19 are suffering long-term problems with their fitness and ability to participate in usual activities of daily life. Symptoms include muscle weakness, breathlessness, changes in sensation, pain and fatigue. There are also effects on psychological and mental health. Rehabilitation could help with these issues. However, there are challenges in providing this rehabilitation because so many patients need to access these services and because face to face treatment is not always possible due to social distancing.
There has been increasing interest in remote rehabilitation interventions from researchers and App. developers in recent years. Remote interventions use technology such as video, smartphone applications and interactive conferencing (i.e. Zoom) to deliver rehabilitation programmes.
We will search for evidence about remote rehabilitation interventions and application stores to identify existing remote interventions that might meet the needs of COVID-19 survivors. This information will allow rehabilitation teams to direct patients to suitable remote interventions. This may be needed to replace or to enhance their rehabilitation programme.
Attachments
Protocol registration
The protocol is registered on protocols.io.
Inclusion criteria
Papers / applications that describe a rehabilitation intervention:
- that is aimed at long-term symptoms known to be associated with COVID-19 (i.e. fatigue, breathlessness, weakness)
- aimed at community based or self-management level of acuity (excluding hospital or inpatient rehabilitation)
- devlirered remotely
The intervention type, dose and delivery should be clearly described / replicable.
The intervention should be currently accessible as an application / web-based tool to the public (although may be behind a paywall).
Programmes should be available in English language and based in the UK.
Types of evidence sources: meta-analysis, systematic review, randomised controlled trial, non-randomised or before / after study design as well as selected commentaries.
Search strategy
The review will use a five-step search strategy:
- An initial search of two databases (MEDLINE and CINAHL) with selected papers analysed for potential additional keywords.
- A full search across all databases (Embase, Cochrane trails register) using any newly identified keywords as search terms.
- A search of reference lists of selected papers.
- A search of grey literature including conference proceedings from tech in health conferences; selected commentaries
Data extraction
Data from papers:
- Source details
oAuthor / date
oConditions / populations for which the intervention is designed (including acuity)
oMedia type
- Type of rehabilitation
oType of exercise / activity
oDose (intensity / frequency / duration) of intervention
- Delivery of the intervention
oQualifications / profession of developer / instructor
oMotivational tools incorporated into the intervention (use template to quantify)
oTheories to support delivery
oOpportunity for social interaction / peer support incorporated into the intervention
oFollow up / support provided within the tool / intervention
oCosts of the interventions (simple i.e. whether it requires a fee to use)
Data from applications:
- Source information
oApp name, platform, version, developer, size, star rating, number of installs.
oPrivacy policy statement and medical product status.
oConditions / populations for which the intervention is designed (and acuity)
- Type of rehabilitation
oType of exercise / activity
oDose (intensity / frequency / duration) of intervention
- Delivery of the intervention
oQualifications / profession of developer / instructor
oMotivational tools incorporated into the intervention (use template to quantify)
oTheories to support delivery
oOpportunity for social interaction / peer support incorporated into the intervention
oFollow up / support provided within the tool / intervention
oCosts of the interventions (simple i.e. whether it requires a fee to use
Analysis
Interventions will be summarised narratively according to target condition and demographic, media type and rehabilitation type (dose (frequency, intensity, duration) and support provided (including motivational tools / theories to support delivery)) using tables and/or charts.Interventions relevant to different COVID-19 rehabilitation needs (addressing different symptoms) will be illustrated using tables and/or charts.
Consultation
Findings will be reviewed by a stakeholder group of rehabilitation clinicians and academics that we have assembled for a related project.