Increasing patient compliance and satisfaction with physical therapy web-based applications

Abstract

Performing independent exercises after clinical visits are crucial for patients recovering from injury. However, patients often fail to comply with physical therapist prescriptions due to lack of time and lack of appropriate feedback. The present study investigated the current medium used for prescribed exercises and compared it to mediums used in web-based applications. In Phase I, we surveyed thirteen practicing physical therapists and twenty-two patients of physical therapy. Responses suggested that video instruction of exercises and video-conference meetings between clinic visits would be beneficial to patient rehabilitation. In Phase II, with fifty-eight undergraduate participants, we examined the influence of self-efficacy and format of instructional materials on willingness to comply, satisfaction with information, and anxiety related to completing rehabilitation. We found that video with text instructions were most satisfying to students. Results are discussed with limitations of the present study and future works.