PTQualitativeJMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies2022

Lessons Learned From Clinicians and Stroke Survivors About Using Telerehabilitation Combined With Exergames: Multiple Case Study.

Dorra Rakia Allegue, Shane Norman Sweet, Johanne Higgins and 5 others

PMID 36107484

WHAT IT FOUND

Stroke survivors found home exergames engaging and easy to use, but one participant with aphasia struggled to communicate with his therapist.

Clinicians reported that trust and clear instructions were key to success, while technical glitches and game limitations caused frustration.

Key findings

01Clinicians identified aphasia as a major barrier to effective tele-rehabilitation, leading to miscommunication and difficulty customizing the intervention.

02Stroke survivors generally perceived the technology as user-friendly and intuitive, with high adherence to the exercise program.

03Clinicians reported apprehension about demonstrating exercises without physical contact, though this subsided when patients understood verbal instructions.

STILL TO COME

How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs

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What it does not show

The sample size was very small (3 survivors) due to recruitment being halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Pre-intervention expectations of participants were not documented, so it is unclear if the program met their specific goals. The study was embedded in a larger randomized trial, and quantitative outcomes were not the focus of this specific qualitative report.

Declared interests

None declared.

The easy way to misread this

Do not interpret the high adherence and positive user experience as evidence that this specific telerehabilitation program improves upper extremity motor function. This is a qualitative study of acceptability and barriers, not an efficacy trial, and the quantitative results from the parent trial were not conclusive at the time of this report.

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