Evaluation of patient satisfaction with telerehabilitation services for stroke recovery in Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Stroke is a major global cause of disability and mortality, with increasing incidence rates in Saudi Arabia. Traditional, intensive in-person rehabilitation is challenging, particularly for patients in remote areas. Telerehabilitation offers an effective remote alternative, but patient satisfaction is crucial for its success.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction with telerehabilitation for stroke recovery in Saudi Arabia, focusing on perceived effectiveness and factors influencing satisfaction.
Methodology: A cross-sectional design was used to recruit 377 stroke patients who had completed at least 10 telerehabilitation sessions. Data were collected using validated tools, including the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ).
Results: The majority of patients reported high satisfaction (84.1%) with the services. The average TUQ score across all domains was 4.2/5. Significant positive correlations were found between satisfaction levels and improvements in functional recovery, including mobility, motor skills, and emotional well-being. Key drivers of satisfaction were communication quality, technology reliability, and session accessibility. Satisfaction was higher among younger patients and urban residents. The main barriers reported were technical issues (20.0%) and lack of technology familiarity (18.0%).
Conclusions: High patient satisfaction correlated with better recovery outcomes, emphasizing the need for tailored services. Recommendations include improving technology infrastructure and providing patient training. Telerehabilitation is a well-received and effective alternative to traditional methods in Saudi Arabia.