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The Cumbria telerehabilitation project: Katie Steel, Research Assistant, North Cumbria CFS/ME Service |
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For many Cumbria’s beautiful rural landscape is both a blessing and a curse; people with CFS/ME can have difficulties accessing services due to the long distances, poor transport links and their symptoms. Concerned by this, Heather Garry from the North Cumbria CFS/ME Service and Louise Wilson of the Northern CFS/ME Clinical Network, supported by Dr Diane Cox from the University of Cumbria, initiated a project to investigate the use of telerehabilitation for CFS/ME. What is Telerehabilitation? The first thing we did was to find out what other projects had been done to see if telerehabilitation works, both in terms of the technology and results for patients. We also looked to see what patients thought about using computer-based videoconferencing as part of their treatment. Evidence showed that patients were generally satisfied with videoconference-delivered services. Other recent projects showed that patients using telerehabilitation had similar results to those who travelled to clinic to meet a therapist in-person. Following the literature review, we did a survey of patients within the North Cumbria CFS/ME Service to see if telerehabilitation would work for them. The survey confirmed that travelling to appointments was sometimes difficult for people. However, it also showed that many people already have the equipment necessary for telerehabilitation. An evaluation of the use of the technology in people’s homes is now underway and due to finish in July 2009; feedback so far has been very positive. By the end of August 2009 the evaluation report will be completed. We hope that in the future, clients would be able to use the technology to gain improved access to services and social contact. This is intended to supplement rather than replace in-person treatment. Obviously there are many complex issues around this area including practical, medical and ethical issues. Resolving these will be ongoing, but for people living in such a rural area we feel it is important to be looking at ways to be harnessing technology, especially at a time when the government is also promoting improved internet connection for the whole of Britain. If you would like a copy of the full systematic review please email Heather Garry or Anne Power: This project is funded by the Northern CFS/ME Clinical Network |