Perceptions and Barriers of Occupational Therapists in Using Telehealth with Patients with Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Telehealth use is increasing among occupa-tional therapists. Aim of Study: This study aimed to investigate occupation-al therapists’ use rates, attitudes, and perceptions of telehealth for patients with stroke while identifying key barriers to its implementation. Material and Methods: The study employed a cross-sec-tional online survey design, utilising convenience and snow-ball sampling techniques. Participants were recruited from the Saudi Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) member-ship. Respondents first completed demographic questions and indicated whether they provided telehealth to stroke patients in either governmental or private healthcare settings. Those who answered “yes” proceeded to the full questionnaire, while those who answered “no” were directed to the final section on perceived barriers. Only occupational therapists with at least two years of experience were included in the study. Results: A total of 50 occupational therapists have partic-ipated in this study, of which 24 participants (48%) reported utilising telehealth with stroke patients, while 26 (52%) indi-cated that they did not. Of the Telehealth users (n=24), more than 70% reported the usefulness of Telehealth with stroke patients, believing it enhances the quality of occupational therapy services. Additionally, 80% agreed to use telehealth with stroke patients, demonstrating widespread acceptance of its potential benefits. 79.2% showed confidence in the con-fidentiality of telehealth services. However, other aspects of telehealth beliefs showed more moderate levels of agreement. For instance, 54.2% of telehealth user participants trusted the reliability of information transmitted via telehealth, and 45.8% believed that patients could effectively use telehealth equipment independently. Barriers reported by all participants (n=50) to telehealth utilisation include lack of patient coopera-tion (66%), insufficient equipment (52%), poor technical sup-port (48%), and lack of time or busy schedules (38%). These findings highlight the perspectives of occupational therapists; while many appreciate the advantages of telehealth, addressing these barriers is critical to achieving its full integration into stroke rehabilitation practices. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a positive attitude towards telehealth among occupational therapists. Howev-er, addressing identified barriers, such as ensuring adequate equipment and technical support and providing comprehensive training, is crucial for successful telehealth implementation in stroke rehabilitation.