Telehealth Interventions to Support Self-Management in Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review

Telehealth (TH) intervention is a method to optimize self-management (SM) support in stroke survivors. Objectives of this study included identifying the TH-SM intervention’s focus and SM support components, the TH delivery type, and the TH-SM support effects on stroke survivors. Five databases were searched for the years 2005–2020 to identify TH-SM support interventions for stroke survivors. Randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental, one-group re-post study designs were included. Ten studies were reviewed. TH-SM support focused on post-stroke depression, obesity management, participation, functional mobility, and activities of daily living. The TH delivery type most used in selected studies was messaging. Regarding the SM support components, the education component was used in all studies, and psychological support and lifestyle advice and support were used in 8 out of 10 studies. TH-SM intervention had positive effects in terms of goal achievement for SM behavior, emotional state, and mobility of clinical outcomes, and TH acceptance in stroke survivors. Although the TH-SM-supported intervention effects were not found consistently in all outcomes, this review discovered a positive effect on various SM-related outcomes. In addition, TH delivery types and SM support components showed the possibility of various options to be considered for intervention. Therefore, we suggest that TH-SM supported intervention is a positive alternative for SM support in stroke survivors.