Awareness and Recommendations of Physiotherapists in Jeddah about Using Telemedicine in Rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: Telemedicine is an emerging field with significant potential to enhance rehabilitation services. However, its successful implementation is critically dependent on the awareness and attitudes of clinicians. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness and gather professional recommendations regarding the use of telemedicine in rehabilitation among physiotherapists in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 100 physiotherapists and physical therapy trainees in Jeddah. A custom-designed questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic and professional characteristics, prior awareness and experience with telemedicine, and professional recommendations for its use. A composite "Awareness and Recommendations Score" was created and classified as "Satisfactory" or "Unsatisfactory." Chi-square tests were used to examine the association between this score and participant characteristics.

Results: The findings revealed a profound lack of practical experience, with most participants having never used telemedicine for treating patients (81.0%) or in a professional/training context (67.0%). Despite this, attitudes were positive, with 70.0% recommending its use to colleagues and 76.0% agreeing it could at least partially replace conventional therapy. Overall, 97.0% of participants were classified as having an "Unsatisfactory" level of awareness and recommendations. There were no statistically significant associations between awareness score and any measured demographic or professional variables, including age, gender, educational level, or years of experience (p > 0.05 for all).

Conclusion: A significant gap exists between the positive professional disposition towards telemedicine and the current low levels of awareness and practical experience among physiotherapists in Jeddah. This knowledge deficit appears to be a systemic issue rather than one confined to specific subgroups. These findings highlight an urgent need for structured educational initiatives and supportive institutional policies to bridge this gap and facilitate the effective integration of tele-rehabilitation into clinical practice in Saudi Arabia.