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 intervention to promote skin and other self-care activities for clients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) following their discharge from a rehabilitation facility. 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 calls. There was an average of 10 video-calls (range 3-25) and an average of six telephone calls (range 0-22) per client. The average length of the consultations was 23 min (range 15-34 min). The overall impressions of the 11 clients were very positive. Weekly telecare sessions for four to six weeks, followed by telephone counselling alone every other week for another four weeks, appears to be the appropriate sequence for most SCI clients.