By Gholamreza Hassanzadeh [1,2,3], Ardalan Shariat [1*], Mahsa Farghadan [4], Albert T. Anastasio [5], and Shamsul Bahri Mohd Tamrin [6]

[1] Department of Digital Health, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
[2] Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
[3] Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
[4] Department of Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Computer Engineering, Islamic Azad University of South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
[5] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
[6] Department of Occupational Health, School of Medicine, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
 

Call for Papers for Special Issue: Advancements in Telehealth for the Prevention and Treatment of Musculoskeletal Disorders

We invite experts in the fields of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital health to submit their valuable papers for a special issue entitled: "Advancements in Telehealth: Empowering Occupational Health through Teleconsultation, Telerehabilitation, and Teleexercise for the Prevention and Treatment of Musculoskeletal Disorders across Occupations."

Submission Instructions: Manuscripts should be submitted to the journal's online submission system: work.editorialmanager.com - under Section: Advancements in Telehealth.

Corresponding Author: Ardalan Shariat, PhD Associate Professor in Department of Digital Health, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Email: a-Shariat@sina.tums.ac.ir

Introduction

Telehealth, which involves providing healthcare services remotely through online platforms, has gained widespread acceptance due to the COVID-19 pandemic and constraints in time and resources [1,2]. However, there are still gaps in telehealth services for different occupational groups, and most applications have focused on patients with existing pathologies rather than healthy individuals [3,4].

Musculoskeletal disorders are common work-related complaints, and many individuals seek care from physiotherapists or occupational therapists without considering virtual care options [3,4]. With fixed salaries, family obligations, and financial constraints, some patients may find it challenging to attend regular in-person therapy sessions [5–7]. Therefore, there is a need to explore telehealth services and their potential benefits across various occupations.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Telehealth

One of the most promising applications of telehealth is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance treatment effectiveness and quality [8,9]. AI algorithms can analyze data from telehealth platforms, such as movement patterns and vital signs, to develop personalized and data-driven treatment plans in real-time [8,9]. This can revolutionize occupational and physical therapy care provision, providing access to care regardless of location, mobility, or financial capability [8,9].

Additionally, AI can facilitate better communication between patients and providers using chatbots or virtual assistants [10–12]. Patients can receive timely feedback, ask questions, and receive guidance on exercises, improving patient engagement and treatment adherence.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

Despite the advantages, using AI in telehealth presents challenges, such as data privacy concerns and potential biases in healthcare [13–15]. Providers must implement robust data security measures and ensure transparency in data usage. Bias in AI algorithms can be addressed by training them on diverse populations and regularly updating them to reflect changes in demographics and risk factors.

Topics for Submission

We invite experts to submit papers on topics related to telehealth and AI, including but not limited to:

1. Present and future use of telehealth and AI in occupational therapy.
2. Ethical considerations in using AI for telehealth.
3. Efficacy and effectiveness studies of telehealth and AI.
4. Outcome studies for specific musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses.
5. Practical models and suggestions to enhance telehealth outcomes and adoption.
6. Telerehabilitation, teleconsultation, and teleexercise in various occupations.
7. Validity and reliability of digital platforms for telehealth provision.
8. Theories and frameworks supporting telehealth implementation in different occupations.
9. Identifying specific needs for telehealth services within various occupations.

References
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[2]    De Simone S, Franco M, Servillo G, Vargas M. Implementations and strategies of telehealth during COVID-19 outbreak: a systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022;22(1):833.
[3]    Rennie K, Taylor C, Corriero AC, Chong C, Sewell E, Hadley J, Shina A. The current accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and uses of musculoskeletal telehealth and telerehabilitation services. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2022;21(7):247-60.
[4]    Wallace LM, Falla D, Rushton A, Heneghan NR. Group and individual telehealth for chronic musculoskeletal pain: A scoping review. Musculoskeletal Care. 2022;20(2):245-58.
[5]    Alizadeh R, Anastasio AT, Shariat A, Bethell M, Hassanzadeh G. Teleexercise for geriatric patients with failed back surgery syndrome. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1140506.
[6]    Law L, Kelly JT, Savill H, Wallen MP, Hickman IJ, Erku D, Mayr HL. Cost-effectiveness of telehealth-delivered diet and exercise interventions: A systematic review. J Telemed Telecare. 2022;1357633X211070721.
[7]    Siegel A, Zuo Y, Moghaddamcharkari N, McIntyre RS, Rosenblat JD. Barriers, benefits and interventions for improving the delivery of telemental health services during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a systematic review. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2021;34(4):434-43.
[8]    Kuziemsky C, Maeder AJ, John O, Gogia SB, Basu A, Meher S, Ito M. Role of artificial intelligence within the telehealth domain. Yearb Med Inform. 2019;28(1):35-40.
[9]    El-Sherif DM, Abouzid M, Elzarif MT, Ahmed AA, Albakri A, Alshehri MM. Telehealth and Artificial Intelligence insights into healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare (Basel). 2022;10(2):385.
[10]    He J, Baxter SL, Xu J, Xu J, Zhou X, Zhang K. The practical implementation of artificial intelligence technologies in medicine. Nat Med. 2019;25(1):30-36.
[11]    Amjad A, Kordel P, Fernandes G. A Review on Innovation in Healthcare Sector (Telehealth) through Artificial Intelligence. Sustainability 2023;15:6655.
[12]    Xu H, Huang S, Qiu C, Liu S, Deng J, Jiao B, Tan X, Ai L, Xiao Y, Belliato M, Yan L. Monitoring and management of home-quarantined patients with COVID-19 using a WeChat-based telemedicine system: retrospective cohort study. J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(7):e19514.
[13]    Saaei F, Klappa SG. Rethinking telerehabilitation: attitudes of physical therapists and patients. J Patient Exp. 2021;8:23743735211034335.
[14]    Agarwal R, Bjarnadottir M, Rhue L, Dugas M, Crowley K, Clark J, Gao G. Addressing algorithmic bias and the perpetuation of health inequities: An AI bias aware framework. Health Policy and Technology. 2023;12:100702.
[15]    Parikh RB, Teeple S, Navathe AS. Addressing bias in artificial intelligence in health care. Jama 2019;322:2377–8.