An investigation of the relationship between e-health literacy and telerehabilitation awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and skills of physiotherapists in Türkiye

Year 2025, EARLY ONLINE, 1 - 8

Erman Berk Çelik , Gülfem Ezgi Özaltın , Gökhan Aygül

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1792352

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the e-health literacy levels of physiotherapists in Türkiye and to examine their relationship with telerehabilitation awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and skills.

Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study included 106 physiotherapists who participated through an online survey between January and March 2024. E-health literacy was evaluated using the E-Health Literacy Scale, while telerehabilitation competencies were assessed with the Telerehabilitation Awareness, Knowledge, Attitudes and Skills Scale. Statistical analyses were conducted using multiple regression and ordinal regression models.

Results: The median e-health literacy score was 30 (min: 12-max: 40), the mean (±SD) was (28.79±6.44). A statistically significant relationship was found between e-health literacy and all subdimensions of telerehabilitation: awareness (η²ₚ=0.153, P<0.001), knowledge (η²ₚ=0.041, P=0.038), attitudes (η²ₚ=0.299, P<0.001), and skills (η²ₚ=0.178, P<0.001). E-health literacy explained 34.7% of the variance in these domains. Additionally, telerehabilitation awareness significantly predicted the frequency of telerehabilitation use (β=0.143, P<0.001).

Conclusions: E-health literacy plays a critical role in the readiness of physiotherapists to adopt telerehabilitation practices. Educational programs aimed at improving digital literacy and awareness may enhance the effective integration and implementation of e-health and telerehabilitation services in physiotherapy.

Keywords

E-health literacy , telerehabilitation , physiotherapist , digital health

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Mardin Artuklu University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2025/2-12; date: 18.02.2025). All procedures were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments. All participants provided informed consent before inclusion, confirming their understanding and willingness to participate under clearly defined conditions. The participants' data were kept confidential and used solely for scientific purposes.

Thanks

We thank all the physiotherapists who participated in the study for their contributions.

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