Access to telehealth by stroke patients: which are the main barriers and how they are explained by the UTAUT theoretical model? A systematic review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Stroke is a chronic health condition that requires monitoring. In this sense, telehealth emerges as a tool to enable better access. However, since it is related to use of technology, this modality might face new barriers. Our goal was to identify, with a systematic literature review, the perceived barriers to telehealth access by stroke patients and conceptualize them within the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. The systematic review was carried out in the following electronic databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS, and PEDro; and the combination of descriptors were: “Barriers to Access to Health Care,” “Telerehabilitation,” “Telehealth,” “Stroke,” and “Physical Therapy Modalities.” The included studies focused on telehealth barriers perceived by stroke patients. Initially, 298 articles were found, 295 via databases search, and three via active search; of these, only six articles were included in this review. Overall, the articles revealed the perception of more than 220 stroke patients, with barriers categorized into eight types, most of them related to the dimensions of Effort Expectancy and Facilitating Conditions of the UTAUT model. The barriers of the Effort Expectation dimension that are related to the knowledge in the use of technologies are likely to be overcome since training can be carried out before the telehealth service. However, the barriers related to the Facilitating Conditions dimension regarding financial aspects, the internet, and home context are difficult to overcome, possibly interfering with user’s acceptance of telehealth.