Kellie B Emmerson1,2, Katherine E Harding1,3, Kylee J Lockwood1,3, Nicholas F Taylor1,3. 1. School of Allied Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia. 2. Peter James Centre-Eastern Health, Burwood East, Victoria, Australia. 3. Allied Health Clinical Research Office-Eastern Health, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Allied health professionals working in rehabilitation often prescribe home exercise programs. Smart technology offers an alternative format for presentation of home exercise programs with potential advantages over traditional paper-based programs, but how do patients feel about this? DESIGN: This qualitative analysis was part of a convergent mixed methods design, using in depth, semi-structured interviews to explore the lived experience of patients utilising touch screen tablets to support an upper limb home exercise program post stroke. METHODS: Ten male participants with stroke and upper limb impairment who received home exercise programs using video and reminders on tablet computers participated. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically. RESULTS: There were three main themes: (1) exercises on the tablet helped patients' recovery in a variety of ways; (2) everyone could use the tablet for their home exercise program; but (3) not everyone liked using the tablet. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: Smart technology is increasingly accessible and provides a novel, convenient way to provide home exercise programs post stroke with a number of benefits. This technology is not for everyone, but may be well suited to patients who already own and use these devices in daily life. Automated reminders were not viewed as a useful reminder tool.
BACKGROUND: Allied health professionals working in rehabilitation often prescribe home exercise programs. Smart technology offers an alternative format for presentation of home exercise programs with potential advantages over traditional paper-based programs, but how do patients feel about this? DESIGN: This qualitative analysis was part of a convergent mixed methods design, using in depth, semi-structured interviews to explore the lived experience of patients utilising touch screen tablets to support an upper limb home exercise program post stroke. METHODS: Ten male participants with stroke and upper limb impairment who received home exercise programs using video and reminders on tablet computers participated. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically. RESULTS: There were three main themes: (1) exercises on the tablet helped patients' recovery in a variety of ways; (2) everyone could use the tablet for their home exercise program; but (3) not everyone liked using the tablet. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: Smart technology is increasingly accessible and provides a novel, convenient way to provide home exercise programs post stroke with a number of benefits. This technology is not for everyone, but may be well suited to patients who already own and use these devices in daily life. Automated reminders were not viewed as a useful reminder tool.
Authors: Katharine Scrivener; Jessica Sewastenko; Alexandra Bouvier-Farrell; Katherine MacDonald; Tegan Van Rijn; Joshua Tezak; Nicholas Mandis; Sherrie Love Journal: Stroke Res Treat Date: 2021-04-27