A feasibility study of video-based home telecare for clients with spinal cord injuries

We carried out a feasibility study of the use of a home telecare interventi on to promote skin and other self-care activities for clients with spinal c ord injuries (SCIs) following their discharge from a rehabilitation facilit y. Eleven clients (mean age 38 years) participated in at least three video- sessions over a minimum of six weeks. The equipment used was a video-phone which could transmit both audio and still images over an ordinary telephone line. Video-sessions were followed by, or interspersed with, telephone cal ls. There was an average of 10 video-calls (range 3-25) and an average of s ix telephone calls (range 0-22) per client. The average length of the consu ltations was 23 min (range 15-34 min). The overall impressions of the 11 cl ients were very positive. Weekly telecare sessions for four to six weeks, f ollowed by telephone counselling alone every other week for another four we eks, appears to be the appropriate sequence for most SCI clients.