Effects of the Tele-Monitoring With the Speech-to-Text Application on Occupational Balance in Healthy Adults : Feasibility Study

Abstract

Objective : The COVID-19 pandemic has brought non-face-to-face healthcare service delivery system. Research into telehealth system and its efficacy remains unclear. Methods : Seven healthy adults participated in this study to investigate effects of tele-monitoring with the speech-to-text (STT) application to induce changes in occupational activities on occupational balance in healthy adults. Subjects were requested to choose occupational activities they wanted to have researched and then register them to the STT application. The STT application provided an alarm to check whether the pre-registered activities were performed on time, and whether the subjects performed it by their voice. The subjects were followed for 1 week, with assessments at baseline, and after 1-week’s tele-monitoring. Results : Our findings showed that the subjects were willing to participate in tele-monitoring with the STT application with high adherence and satisfaction. In addition, there was a significant improvement in occupational activities related to health (p <.05). Specifically, adherence, satisfaction, and efficacy of the tele-monitoring with the STT application could successfully bring occupational balance in short-term periods. Conclusion : These findings highlight that tele-monitoring with a smartphone could be considered as one promising way to restore occupational balance in lockdown after the COVID-19 outbreak.