JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Stroke survivors often face persistent challenges accessing post-discharge care due to mobility limitations, transportation burdens, and inflexible scheduling. Teleconsultation has emerged as a potential solution to improve continuity of care, but its perceived strengths and limitations from the patient perspective remain insufficiently understood.

Objective:

This study explored stroke survivors’ experiences with a nurse-led teleconsultation program to identify perceived capabilities, limitations, and patient-informed recommendations for improvement.

Methods:

A qualitative study was embedded within a three-month nurse-led teleconsultation intervention. Twenty-one ischemic stroke survivors (aged 45–76 years; 11 female) participated in six focus groups conducted via Zoom. All participants had preserved cognitive function (MoCA ≥22) and access to smartphones. Data were analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s framework.

Results:

Participants widely valued teleconsultation for reducing logistical burdens, enhancing access, and offering a more comfortable, emotionally supportive setting for follow-up care. Many reported increased awareness and motivation for self-monitoring. However, limitations included an inability to perform physical assessments or respond to emergencies, digital and usability barriers—especially among older users—and scheduling inflexibility. Participants emphasized the need for patient-initiated follow-up mechanisms, physician collaboration for medication management, and greater support for digitally marginalized users. They also highlighted the potential of teleconsultation to serve as a triage tool, reserving in-person care for complex cases.

Conclusions:

Stroke survivors viewed nurse-led teleconsultation as a valuable component of post-stroke care, particularly for stable follow-ups and psychosocial support. However, its long-term viability depends on addressing clinical and technical limitations, enhancing user autonomy, and integrating interdisciplinary input. These findings offer actionable insights to guide the development of more inclusive, responsive, and patient-centered teleconsultation models.