[Tel-O-Rena-Telematic ophthalmological rehabilitation aftercare].

Abstract

Background: There are currently no specific rehabilitation aftercare services in Germany for people with visual impairment to ensure their long-term occupational and social participation following medical rehabilitation. Therefore, the research project "TEL-O-Rena" aimed to develop a multimodal, accessible, telemedical rehabilitation aftercare service for this target group. The scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of such interventions is currently limited.

Material and methods: Literature reviews, expert interviews, application observations, and surveys of people with visual impairment were conducted in the fields of visual rehabilitation, movement therapy, psychology and pedagogics. Based on this, corresponding therapy curricula are created.

Results: Tools were identified in the respective subfields and compiled into assessments that systematically capture the specific needs of participants at the end of inpatient ophthalmological rehabilitation. Based on these findings, telemedical therapy modules were developed, including optometric exercises to compensate for visually induced strain symptoms, motor training to improve balance and cervical motor control and a psychological intervention to reduce severe fatigue. These modules were adapted to the specific needs of people with visual impairment under inclusive pedagogical considerations.

Conclusion: A basic set of accessible telemedical therapy modules has been developed. There is a particular need for further research on the efficacy of the individual therapeutic components within the context of digital, barrier-free implementation.