Navigating the Boundaries of Teleconsultation: Capabilities, Limitations, and Pathways for Improvement—A Qualitative Study on Stroke Patients' Experiences

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 selfmonitoring. 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 patientinitiated 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.