Teletherapy in Austria

Project Duration: 01.04.2020 to 31.03.2021

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Teletherapy is the delivery of therapy at a distance with the help of information and communication technologies. This can be carried out by means of consultations via video conference as well as with the inclusion of additional sensor technology for measuring vital parameters or movement sequences. The project will focus on the implementation of teletherapy via video consultations, which are quick to learn and do not require the use of additional hardware.

Eine Person in einem Wohnzimmer sitzt im Schneidersitz auf einer Yogamatte und gestikuliert in Richtung des Bildschirms eines Laptops, der vor ihr steht. Daneben liegen Hanteln und ein Gymnastikball.

Research Areas

Digital Innovation, Engineering, and AI
Life Sciences, Health, and Quality of Life

Department

Health Sciences

To date, the use of teletherapy in the therapy professions has become established internationally, particularly in regions characterised by high levels of urban sprawl. The use of telecommunication systems makes it possible to overcome local distance and carry out therapy remotely. In times when therapists are also required to reduce social contacts and thus also minimise patient contacts, teletherapy can help to maintain therapy.

In this project, the acceptance, opinion and experience of occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech therapists practising in Austria on the topic of online consultations with the help of video conferencing will be surveyed and the following topics will be analysed in a triangulation of questionnaire research, literature analysis, field observation and subsequent interviews with individual therapists:

  • Changes in opinion on teletherapy due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Influence of general acceptance of technology in relation to attitudes towards teletherapy
  • Differences between the professional groups
  • Differences between age groups
  • Differences with regard to the patient group being worked with
  • Barriers and concerns regarding the implementation of teletherapy
  • Wishes regarding the future of teletherapy
 

Research Goals

  • Study of acceptance, attitudes, and experiences in the field of teletherapy
  • Identification of differences in the perception and use of teletherapy among professional, age, and patient groups
  • Survey of barriers, challenges, and future expectations regarding the implementation and further development of teletherapy
 

Project Outcome

Publication of the paper "Changing attitudes towards teletherapy in Austrian therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic", open access in "Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare".

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Writing SDG 3 Good health and well-being

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being

Writing SDG 9 Industry innovation and infrastructure

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Writing SDG 10 reduced inequalities

SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Project Lead

Project Team