THE SCOPE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN FACILITATING DISABILITY REHABILITATION FOR RURAL POPULATION.

Abstract

Rural Areas have restricted access to healthcare services, creating challenges for care accessibility, quality, and sustainability. This narrative review examines how artificial intelligence (AI) can address these issues by integrating e-health and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), enhancing healthcare delivery in under-resourced areas. Additionally, it explores AI's role in advancing medical education and training, thereby supporting the professional development of healthcare workers.

 The review highlights AI's potential to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery, improve rehabilitation processes, and enhance optimal results for individuals with disabilities in rural areas.  Objectives include identifying current AI applications in rehabilitation, analyzing their benefits and limitations in rural healthcare systems, and evaluating how AI can enhance the accessibility, quality, and customization of rehabilitation services.  A detailed review of the existing literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, focusing on studies that explored AI in disability rehabilitation for rural settings.

A systematic literature search was performed in the PubMed Database and Cochrane Central Library, following the Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The results indicate that AI-driven solutions, such as remote monitoring, personalized rehabilitation programs, and assistive technologies, are making significant advances. AI-powered tools improve patient access, tailor rehabilitation to individual needs, and optimize limited resources.

AI holds substantial potential for transforming disability rehabilitation in rural areas by enhancing care accessibility and personalization. Addressing ethical concerns, and workforce training will be critical to fully realizing AI's potential in these settings. AI-based applications are vital for rural rehabilitation