Stroke is one of the three top causes of death in Canada.[1] Adults are afflicted by 3 distinct types: ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and transient ischemic attack (TIA).[2]Due to the paucity of studies on home telehealth in the management of patients recovering from stroke, we elected not to limit our search to a single type. In addition, we included studies conducted with patients at high risk for stroke.
Home telehealth is used to address the needs of post-stroke patients in a variety of ways.[3] Those who are on oral anticoagulation therapy can use remote monitoring services to get feedback on medication dosage. Rehabilitation can be facilitated by virtual-reality systems that allow patients to perform range-of-motion exercises at home while being guided by therapists in a different location. Home telehealth can also be used for education and emotional support. These interventions can incorporate web portals, videoconferencing sessions with providers, and online discussion forums or e-mail services.
[1] Statistics Canada. Mortality, Summary List of Causes 2008. Released October 18, 2011.
[2] The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Accessed through http://www.heartandstroke.com/.
[3] Note that the definition of ‘home telehealth’ that was used in this review does not include telehealth systems designed to facilitate hospital-to-hospital or provider-to-provider contact. So-called ‘hub-and-spoke’ stroke networks are therefore excluded, as are systems designed to be used during emergency transport.
- Key Messages
- Scope of Literature
- Intervention Design and Implementation
- Outcomes
- Works Cited
- Master Tables
