Effectiveness of telerehabilitation based on real-time intervention between therapist and participants for improving physical function, activities of daily living and quality of life in people with stroke: A systematic review protocol

Background: There is a call for gathering more evidence on the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in stroke. In particular, a previous systematic review reported substantial variability in the types of technologies used in telerehabilitation interventions. The purpose of this study will be to summarize and synthesize findings on the effects of telerehabilitation based on real-time intervention between therapist and participants for patients with stroke. Methods and analysis: This systematic review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. This systematic review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 25 May 2023 (registration number: CRD420234265527). Electronic searches will be performed in the following databases: MEDLINE, Pubmed, Web of Science, PsycINFO and CINAHL electronic databases, using a date range from inception to November 2023. We will include only randomized controlled trials for patients diagnosed with stroke who received telerehabilitation based on real-time interaction between therapist and patients. The exploration will be restricted to publications in the English language. Physical function, activities of daily living and quality of life are the outcomes. We will examine the changes of the outcomes at baseline, at the end of the intervention, and at specific time points during the follow-up after the intervention. Discussion: This systematic review will provide evidence regarding telerehabilitation for people with stroke.