Comparative Study of Hybrid Conventional In-Person Physiotherapy Convenience and Patient Preference

Abstract

Background: Telerehabilitation may improve access to physiotherapy by reducing travel burden, time constraints, and repeated outpatient visits; however, fully remote rehabilitation may not be suitable for all patients because physiotherapy often requires direct assessment, exercise correction, manual techniques, and patient–therapist interaction. A hybrid model combining initial in-person physiotherapy with online follow-up may provide a practical alternative. Objective: To assess patient preference and perceived convenience regarding hybrid telerehabilitation compared with conventional in-person physiotherapy among outpatient physiotherapy patients in Karachi. Methods: A cross-sectional observational survey was conducted among 200 physiotherapy outpatients recruited through non-probability purposive sampling from physiotherapy outpatient departments in Karachi. Data were collected using an adapted questionnaire covering demographics, technology access, telerehabilitation awareness, caregiver support, perceived convenience, preferred service-delivery model, reasons for preference, perceived care quality, and willingness for online follow-up. Descriptive statistics were reported as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Results: Most participants were female (77.0%), and the mean age was 38.97 ± 11.80 years. Musculoskeletal conditions were the most common diagnosis (88.5%). Hybrid telerehabilitation was preferred by 57.0% of participants, compared with in-person visits by 32.0% and telerehabilitation alone by 11.0%. Travel convenience was the leading reason for preference (39.5%). Smartphone access was reported by 82.0%, caregiver support by 80.5%, perceived same quality of care by 67.5%, and willingness for online follow-up by 67.5%. Conclusion: Hybrid telerehabilitation was the most preferred model and was perceived as convenient by many outpatient physiotherapy patients, although future studies are needed to evaluate clinical effectiveness, safety, adherence, and cost outcomes.