TELEREHABILITATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF MEDICAL REHABILITATION STUDENTS: A PILOT STUDY

Introduction: Health professionals' attitudes towards telerehabilitation have been recognized as a key factor in the acceptance and adaptation of these technologies. The aim of this study was to examine the attitudes of medical rehabilitation students towards telerehabilitation. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted in June 2023 among medical rehabilitation students from the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad. An online questionnaire was utilized, consisting of two parts. The first part collected basic demographic information, while the second part comprised 21 statements about telerehabilitation, answered on a five-point Likert scale. The attitudes were analyzed individually and as a summation score ranging from 21 to 105. A score of 21-48 indicated a negative attitude, 49-77 a neutral attitude, and 78-105 a positive attitude towards telerehabilitation. Results: The study included 50 medical rehabilitation students, with an average age of 20.5±1.3 years. The majority of participants were female (78%). Approximately half of the students were in their first year, while the other half were in the second to fourth year of study. The average summation score (73.4±10.2) indicated a neutral attitude towards telerehabilitation. Most students expressed agreement with statements reflecting a positive orientation towards telerehabilitation. However, when it came to negative-oriented statements, most students agreed that widespread implementation of telerehabilitation could lead to job losses for physiotherapists (62%) and that telerehabilitation may not provide the same level of movement correction as traditional treatment (74%). Additionally, 60% of students believed that reliance on technological advancements and modern technology should be moderated. Conclusion: This study revealed a neutral attitude among medical rehabilitation students towards telerehabilitation. To effectively implement telerehabilitation systems, it is crucial to foster awareness, motivation, and a positive attitude among both patients and therapists. Further education of students regarding the potential of telerehabilitation technologies, based on scientific evidence, is warranted.