EXPLORING THE USE OF AN INTERACTIVE WEB BASED PLATFORM TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICE DELIVERY IN RWANDA

Muhire Y1, Birori A2, Musabyemaliya I3, Dr. Nuhu A4, Prosper T5,61King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Physiotherapy, Kigali, Rwanda, 2Self Employed, Rehabilitation, Education and Inclusion, Kigali, Rwanda, 3HI, Fonctional Rehabilitation, Kigali, Rwanda, 4UR, Health Sciences/Physiotherapy, Kigali, Rwanda, 5University of Rwanda/ College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Physiotherapy, Kigali, Rwanda, 6Centre Medical Orkide, Physiotherapy, Kigali, RwandaBackground: Information technology (IT) industry in Rwanda is growing quickly and many stakeholders adhere to it to improve access to their services. This includes the health sector, private and government hospitals who are using health information technology. Although physiotherapy services use IT for sharing information, currently they doesn't use it to make their services accessible for Rwandans. However, big number of Rwandans do not access physiotherapy services, specifically for person with disabilities due to poverty, long distances and a hilly geographical environment. Therefore, a web-based interactive platform was created. This platform includes education and awareness information as well as the contact number of a rehabilitation professional by area who can provide home bases care. This web-based interactive platform becomes available for people since May 2018.Purpose: Purpose of this project was to explores the use of IT to improve access to rehabilitation services and to introduce physiotherapy home service delivery to minimize these accessibility challengesMethods: Group discussions among Rwandan physiotherapists, working in different clinics and hospitals in Rwanda, were conducted to identify challenges that service users have, and possible solutions. The idea of a website was identified through those discussions. Website was created and is being hosted. It can keeping the message for an appointment or other asked related needs. Target population were people who visit the website, so that they will benefit the knowledge, information, services in their situation and location choice.Results: Data were collected in a period from May to July 2018. The results showed 235 persons have visited the site. As a result of those visits, 24(10.2%) clients called to book an appointment for home based care, 59 (25.1%) were referred to the nearest hospital/clinic, 9(3.8%) were given information on the services offered, and 10(4.2%) were given information regarding their condition(s). Questionnaire will be added in next stage to evaluate the visitors´ satisfaction, benefits, and barriers. Website is available at: www.ephocrwanda.comConclusion(s): Number of visitors for the website considers big for us. Findings from this project demonstrate how IT can be used to promote access to healthcare services as well as home based physiotherapy services delivery in Rwanda. However, challenges persist for people in rural areas to access physiotherapy due to poverty, lack of awareness of the website and services that are available. Therefore, partnerships with the government of Rwanda, NGOs and insurance companies is needed to offset the cost of the delivery of home based care service delivery. Additional work is needed with stakeholders and other health care professionals like nurses and medical doctor to support a multidisciplinary team approach as the need for rehabilitation increases in response to the WHO call for rehabilitation 2030.Implications: More people without caregiver and geographic related barrier will got equity physiotherapy service at their home. The website platform will be used by health workers as a source of information for patient referral, to promote awareness of physiotherapy impact in health care through education tips, referring patient in different nearest physiotherapy center can minimize challenges related to access, and decrease hospital length of stay.Keywords: Home care, Physiotherapy Services, Information technologyFunding acknowledgements: IT IKISHATSE T., a web designer, SOCOMAT LTD for hosting, NSANZABIZERA M, MUKAMANZI R.Topic: Information management, technology & big data; Professional practice: other; Disability & rehabilitationEthics approval required: NoInstitution: noneEthics committee: noneReason not required: Registration of the project was made, this new approach was designed and initiated. The project has been implemented since may 2018All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.