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. 2025 Aug 18;8(8):e71131.
doi: 10.1002/hsr2.71131. eCollection 2025 Aug.

Toward Home-Based Telerehabilitation for Cerebral Palsy Patients: A Qualitative Study on Feasibility, Barriers and Facilitators

Faridokht Salahshoori  1 , Majid Jangi  2 , Ebrahim Sadeghi-Demneh  3 , Farhad Fatehi  4 , Alireza Rahimi  1
Affiliations

Toward Home-Based Telerehabilitation for Cerebral Palsy Patients: A Qualitative Study on Feasibility, Barriers and Facilitators

Faridokht Salahshoori et al. Health Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Background and aim: Telerehabilitation has emerged as a promising solution to address accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and continuity of care for patients requiring long-term rehabilitation, like cerebral palsy (CP) patients. This study aimed to qualitatively explore the perceptions of clinical specialists, and CP patients regarding the feasibility, barriers, and facilitators of home-based telerehabilitation.

Methods: This qualitative study conducted a thematic analysis approach. Participants include two groups: 17 medical informatics and rehabilitation professionals and 13 CP patients and/or their caregivers. Participants were selected via expert and snowball sampling. Interviews were semi-structured, transcribed, and analyzed using the Braun-Clarke thematic analysis technique and MAXQDA software.

Results: Thematic analysis revealed four dominant themes including feasibility, barriers, facilitators, and advantages. Feasibility was affected by technological infrastructure (internet connectivity, data security), human resources (availability of multidisciplinary specialists), legal aspects (patient data privacy), and financial sustainability. Key barriers included low digital literacy, limited access to specialized rehabilitation technologies, cultural resistance, legal regulations, and financial constraints. The findings also highlighted several advantages of home-based telerehabilitation, including cost savings, improved accessibility to rehabilitation, and enhanced patient engagement in therapy.

Conclusion: The current study suggested that home-based telerehabilitation can be a feasible alternative for CP patients in Iran, but a variety of technological, financial, legal, and cultural barriers must first be addressed for its successful development. Overcoming such barriers requires targeted investments, supportive policies, and cultural education for successful implementation.

Keywords: Health Information Technology; cerebral palsy; home‐Based Care; qualitative research; rehabilitation services; telerehabilitation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript. Dr. [Alireza Rahimi] had full access to all of the data in this study and takes complete responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
An overview of the study's phases.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Themes and subthemes emerged from interviews for the feasibility domain.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Themes and subthemes emerged from interviews for challenges domain.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Themes and subthemes emerged from interviews for the advantages domain.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Themes and subthemes emerged from interviews for facilitators' domain.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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