Group videoconferencing
CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN
Using group videoconferencing to manage chronic conditions has already been attempted before, and a quick PubMed® search generates results dating back over ten years ago. A 2012 videoconferencing management protocol by the San Francisco Veteran Affairs Medical Center integrates cognitive-behavioral therapy and physical therapy [A pre-SARS-CoV-2-pandemic systematic review found home-based groups by videoconferencing feasible even for those with limited digital literacy [Furthermore, recent studies examining the effectiveness of video exercise-based telerehabilitation in patients with chronic low back pain [It is not farfetched to expect a better experience (for both patients and healthcare professionals) through videoconferencing than with other devices that do not allow capturing facial expressions and body language in real time. It is still unclear whether MGVA would influence patients’ clinical responses. However, it would improve accessibility and essentially provide them with basic treatment tools and professional supervision, although in an unconventional way. Importantly, we acknowledge that the adherence to all study-related procedures within the experimental group was lower than in the control group; however, the clinical impact on experimental group patients was still favorable. Thus, it is reasonable to think that higher adherence could lead to potentially better outcomes. This remains a significant challenge for studies yet to come.