Barriers and Facilitators to the Use of Wearable Robots as Assistive Devices: Qualitative Study With Older Adults and Physiotherapists.
Leah Reicherzer, Mandy Scheermesser, Adrian Kläy and 2 others
PMID 39132691WHAT IT FOUND
Older adults and physiotherapists were generally open to a wearable robot, but most older adults did not feel they needed it.
Ease of putting it on, comfort, sound, public appearance, home support and reimbursement shaped willingness to use it.
Key findings
01The sample had a generally favorable attitude, but most older adults did not see a personal need for the device.
02Barriers were grouped into the person, the device and the environment.
03Physiotherapists thought older adults might need help putting the device on, and reimbursement limits made clinical adoption harder.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only six older adults and six physiotherapists took part, and only two tested the device at home, so the themes cannot show how common these views are. Participants were recruited by availability and were likely already curious or positive about robot assisted training. The authors said data saturation was likely not reached. The focus group was web based because of the pandemic, which the authors considered less suitable than face to face contact. All older adults had to be able to walk 25 m without human assistance, so this says little about people who cannot walk that far. The study reports views and experiences, not measured effectiveness, safety, walking outcomes or actual long term use.
Declared interests
ESG, AK, MS and LR declared no competing interests. JED is cofounder and CEO of MyoSwiss AG, the maker of the Myosuit.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that the Myosuit improves mobility or will be adopted. It is a qualitative study of six older adults and six physiotherapists, and most older adults did not see a personal need for it.