title: Assessing functional exercise capacity using telehealth: Is it valid and reliable in patients with chronic heart failure?
abstract: Introduction This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of video-based telerehabilitation assessments in patients with heart failure. Methods Seventeen consecutive participants (mean age 69 years, SD 12 years and 88% males) undertook assessments of three functional tests via both telerehabilitation and face-to-face approaches, on the same day. The assessment order was randomised and conducted by independent assessors. Outcome measures included functional tests: timed up and go (time), six-minute walk (distance), grip strength (kilograms); system usability scale to rate participant experience with telerehabilitation assessment; and number of technical issues encountered. Validity and inter- and intra-rater reliability of telerehabilitation assessments were examined using limits of agreement, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC), and paired t-tests. Results The limits of agreement for telerehabilitation assessments were within the clinically acceptable limits for timed up and go and grip strength. Telerehabilitation assessments for all functional tests were strongly associated with face-to-face assessments, with ICCs of between 0.85 and 0.96. Inter- and intra-rater reliability of telerehabilitation assessments for all functional tests were excellent (all ICC > 0.95). The mean (SD) system usability scale score was 85 (15)/100. Some incidences of Internet drop-outs, video freezing and auditory fading occurred. Discussion The use of telehealth for the assessment of functional exercise capacity appears to be valid and reliable in patients with heart failure.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Physiotherapy, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Queensland, Australia.|2 Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: 2 Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mandrusiak
authors.affiliation: 3 The Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.|4 The School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Norman R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Cardiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Queensland, Australia.|6 School of Nursing, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Cardiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Korczyk
authors.affiliation: 2 Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D000069350:Telerehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D016138:Walking
keywords: Cardiac failure; exercise test; functional capacity; telemedicine; telerehabilitation