“Life has always been physical physical, now visual”: an explorative study on the use of digital health technologies to promote physiotherapy home treatment programmes among older people

Abstract

Background
There has been a recent rise in the use of technology for health promotional practices, which have begun to gain popularity among physiotherapists but not much research has been conducted to explore its many opportunities and challenges among older adults in developing countries.

Objectives
To explore Nigerian-based Physiotherapists’ perspectives on how digital health technologies (DHT) can be utilized to promote physiotherapy home treatment programs among Nigerian older people.

Methods
This is a one-on-one semi-structured interview of 12 geriatric physiotherapists (7 Male, 5 female) virtually in the Teams Meeting platform. Data generated were analyzed thematically using the latest version of NVivo software.

Results
Three overarching themes were conceptualized including the usage of DHT in Nigeria, challenges to DHT application, and strategies to improve DHT usage. These described a low awareness and usage of DHT despite its recognized need and advantages for promoting home program. The forms of DHT commonly being used are mostly mobile-based through calls or texts, which could be due to barriers to the use of DHT including older people’s declining cognition, poverty, and low interest in technology. Some external problems included the physiotherapists’ attachment to hands-on practice and low commitment from the informal caregivers.

Conclusions
These findings suggested ways to utilize the DHT in promoting physiotherapy home treatment programs among older people by encouraging technological innovations and raising awareness among physiotherapists, while the physiotherapists need to patiently educate both the older people and involve their informal caregivers.