Disparities in Internet Use Among US Stroke Survivors: Implications for Telerehabilitation During COVID-19 and Beyond.

ABSTRACT

Despite evidence-based guidelines,1 stroke rehabilitation remains underutilized, particularly among women and minorities.2 Telerehabilitation is a promising alternative to traditional in-person rehabilitation and offers a novel strategy to overcome access barriers,3 which intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic.4 A broadband connection is a prerequisite for its wide adoption but its availability varies across the United States (https//broadbandnow.com/national-broadband-map). Little is known about demographic and geographic variation in internet use among stroke survivors. In this study, we sought to compare internet use in a nationally representative sample of individuals with and without stroke.