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Telerehabilitation is proposed as a promising avenue to enhance service accessibility for Indigenous communities, yet its application for Indigenous children remains relatively unexplored. This scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR framework to explore current knowledge on the use of telerehabilitation for Indigenous children. Ten scholarly databases, seven grey literature databases, reference searches, and expert consultations were utilised to identify relevant studies. Included articles discussed the use of telerehabilitation provided by rehabilitation professionals (e.g. occupational therapist (OT), physical therapist (PT), speech and language pathologist (SLP) to Indigenous children and/or caregivers. Seven studies were included. Telerehabilitation was explored in different ways, the most common being real-time videoconferencing by SLPs. While some studies explicitly acknowledged cultural responsiveness within both the research process and the intervention, most were not designed for Indigenous children and their caregivers; rather, these participants were included with non-Indigenous participants. Successful implementation and sustainability of telerehabilitation services requires addressing technological limitations, understanding, and respecting diverse worldviews, and co-developing services to meet the unique needs of Indigenous families. Telerehabilitation has been rarely used with Indigenous children and when it was, little attention was given to cultural considerations. These findings emphasise that future telerehabilitation interventions should be truly community-led to ensure cultural relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous Elder advisors in Pelican Narrows, a Cree community in Northern Saskatchewan, have indicated that Western pain scales may not be responsive tools for pain assessments within their community. This study employed a mixed methods research design that involved two phases. Phase one was the development of a pain scale in collaboration with an Elder and a Knowledge Keeper. Phase two was a pilot of the CDPS utilised during virtual physiotherapy sessions for chronic back pain. Twenty-seven participants completed the pre-physiotherapy treatment questionnaires, and 10 participants engaged in semi-structured interviews (9 community members; 1 healthcare provider). A weighted kappa analysis yielded k = 0.696, indicating a good agreement between the CDPS and Faces Pain Scale-Revised in terms of documenting participants' pain. Qualitative data from interviews with community members revealed three major themes: 1) Learnings Regarding Pain Scales, 2) Patient Centered Care; and 3) Strength-Based Solutions for Improving Pain Communication. Two themes were uncovered through conversations with the HCP: 1) Perspectives on CDPS and 2) Healthcare Provider Experiences Communicating about Pain. Moreover, a patient-centredcentred approach is important to ensure comprehensive pain assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Virtual care using videoconference links between urban-based physical therapists and nurse practitioners in rural primary care may overcome access challenges and enhance care for rural and remote residents with chronic low back disorders (CBD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the concordance of this new model of care with two traditional models. Methods: In this cross-sectional study design, each of 27 participants with CBD were assessed by: 1) a team of a nurse practitioner (NP) located with a patient, joined by a physical therapist (PT) using videoconferencing (NP/PTteam); 2) in-person PT (PTalone); and 3) in-person NP (NPalone). Diagnostic and management concordance between the three groups were assessed with percent agreement and kappa. Results: Overall diagnostic categorization was compared for PTalone versus NPalone and NP/PTteam: percent agreement was 77.8% (k = 0.474, p = 0.001) and 74.1% (k = 0.359, p = 0.004), respectively. In terms of management recommendations, the PTalone and NPalone demonstrated strong agreement on "need for urgent surgical referral" (92.6%, k = 0.649 (p < 0.00) and slight agreement for "refer to primary physician for pharmacology, lab or imaging" (81.5%, k = 0.372 (p = 0.013). The PTalone and NP/PTteam demonstrated strong agreement on "need for urgent surgical referral" (96.3%, k = 0.649, p = 0.000) and "recommendation for PT follow up" (88.9%, k = 0.664, p = 0.000). Discussion: The diagnostic categorization and management recommendations of the team using videoconferencing for CBD were similar to decisions made by an in-person PT. This model of care may provide a method for enhancing access to PT for CBD assessment and initial management in underserved areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eleven Indigenous communities served by the File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council (FHQTC) in Saskatchewan, Canada have experienced a progressive reduction in access to physical and occupational therapy services. A community-directed needs assessment facilitated by FHQTC Health Services was undertaken in the summer of 2021 to identify experiences and barriers of community members in accessing rehabilitation services. Sharing circles were conducted according to FHQTC COVID-19 policies; researchers connected to community members via Webex virtual conferencing software. Community stories and experiences were collected via sharing circles and semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed using an iterative thematic analysis approach with NVIVO qualitative analysis software. An overarching theme of culture contextualised five primary themes: 1) Barriers to Rehabilitation Care, 2) Impacts on Family and Quality of Life, 3) Calls for Services, 4) Strength Based Supports, and 5) What Care Should Look Like. Each theme is comprised of numerous subthemes amassed by stories from community members. Five recommendations were developed to enhance culturally responsive access to local services in FHQTC communities: 1) Rehabilitation Staffing Requirements, 2) Integration with Cultural Care, 3) Practitioner Education and Awareness, 4) Patient and Community-Centered Care, and 5) Feedback and Ongoing Evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The knowledge of Honduran healthcare workers who deliver rehabilitation services can be enhanced by support from community-engaged academic collaborations outside the country. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate reactions and learning linked to two continuing education workshops for rehabilitation workers in northern Honduras. Method: A pre-test post-test study design was used. In September 2017, faculty from Canada and Colombia, together with health professionals from Honduras, facilitated two neurorehabilitation workshops - one in a rehabilitation centre and the other in a family support organisation located in northern Honduras. The participants were physiotherapists, physicians, nurses and educational professionals, as well as a psychologist, kinesiologist, and non-professionals trained onsite. Seventeen participants att ended the 'Acquired brain injury/spinal cord injury workshop' (adult workshop), and 15 att ended the 'Rehabilitation for children with impaired neuromotor development workshop' (paediatric workshop). They completed three questionnaires before the workshops: one on sociodemographic information; one related to knowledge; and, the Modifi ed Stages of Learning Questionnaires (MSLQs). Three questionnaires were completed after the workshops: the Modifi ed Kirkpatrick; a knowledge questionnaire; and, the MSLQ. Results: Most of the participants agreed that the workshops had positive eff ects in two of the four Kirkpatrick levels that were evaluated: reaction and learning. In the MSLQs of the paediatric workshop, there was a statistically signifi cant change in the percentage of participants who moved from scanning/evaluation stages in the pre-test to learning/gaining experience in the post-test, in three of the six topics. Three of the knowledge questions showed important learning eff ects. Conclusion and Implications: Workshops off ered through an international collaboration resulted in enhancing learning and knowledge of neurological rehabilitation workers in Honduras. This initiative has the potential to improve the quality of care for people with neurological conditions in the region. Participants evaluated the workshops as relevant and held very positive att itudes about the perceived outcomes. The inclusion of local practitioners in planning the workshops and selecting the topics appeared to have aided their relevance. It is recommended that workshop planners take adequate time to ensure relevancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid evolution and implementation of virtual care technologies for clinical use often exceeds the development of standardized implementation protocols, leading to gaps in the equitable and sustainable adoption of virtual care services, particularly in rural and remote areas. This paper introduces a comprehensive evaluation tool designed to assess community capacity and readiness for virtual care.The development of the tool was informed by experiences from the Virtual Care and Robotics Program at the University of Saskatchewan. It involved a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach that engaged healthcare leaders, IT experts and community healthcare workers. This iterative process included defining evaluation categories, mapping evaluative domains and refining the tool into a user-friendly checklist manual.The tool identifies three key domains for assessing readiness: clinical needs, technology infrastructure and human resources/workflows. It was piloted in the remote community of Fond du Lac, Saskatchewan, where it successfully qualified the community for implementing telerobotic ultrasound services. The tool facilitated local engagement and highlighted the community's specific needs and readiness, enhancing the implementation process.This evaluation tool contributes to bridging the gap between the rapid deployment of virtual care technologies and the need for comprehensive, standardized implementation protocols. It offers a structured, practical approach to assessing and enhancing community readiness for virtual care while promoting successful clinical implementation and equitable access to healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain disproportionately affects Indigenous Peoples, and rural/remote communities face significant barriers in accessing care. La Loche, a Dene/Métis community in northern Saskatchewan, has limited access to specialized chronic pain management services and specialized health providers., Aims: The aim of this needs assessment was to gain insight into the community's priorities, strengths, and concerns regarding chronic MSK pain management. Community engagement and relationship building were essential to ensure that cultural protocols were respected and community worldviews were accurately represented., Methods: A community-directed needs assessment was conducted in collaboration with local health care providers and community members. To ensure appropriate representation of community-led priorities, reflexive thematic analysis was utilized and rooted within interpretive description and informed by community-based participatory research and Two-Eyed Seeing. Open discussions were conducted in person, over the phone, or via Zoom in a semistructured format. Thirteen individuals were interviewed (eight community members, five health care professionals)., Results: Interviews conducted with community members and health care providers were analyzed separately. Both yielded the same four major overarching themes: (1) impact of pain on daily living, (2) barriers limiting access to care and the understanding of pain between health care provider and patient, (3) systemic oppression and negative experiences with health care, and (4) strength-based solutions., Conclusions: Five recommendations were developed to promote culturally safe and patient-centered environments for chronic MSK pain communication and future care delivery: (1) person-centered and community-directed care, (2) clinic model and staffing requirements, (3) practitioner education and awareness, (4) community education and awareness, and (5) community resources., Competing Interests: Authors Zhang, Bath, McKinney, Swidrovich, Johnson, Foulds, Makar, Montgrand, and Lovo have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.)