Requirements for home-based upper extremity rehabilitation using wearable motion sensors for stroke patients: a user-centred approach

A. J. Langerak, G. R. H. Regterschot, R. W. Selles, C. G. M. Meskers, M. Evers, G. M. Ribbers, B. J. F. van Beijnum, J. B. J. Bussmann

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Abstract

Purpose: Telerehabilitation systems have the potential to enable therapists to monitor and assist stroke patients in achieving high-intensity upper extremity exercise in the home environment. We adopted an iterative user-centred approach, including multiple data sources and meetings with end-users and stakeholders to define the user requirements for home-based upper extremity rehabilitation using wearable motion sensors for subacute stroke patients. Methods: We performed a requirement analysis consisting of the following steps: 1) context & groundwork; 2) eliciting requirements; 3) modelling & analysis; 4) agreeing requirements. During these steps, a pragmatic literature search, interviews and focus groups with stroke patients, physiotherapists and occupational therapists were performed. The results were systematically analysed and prioritised into “must-haves”, “should-haves”, and “could-haves”. Results: We formulated 33 functional requirements: eighteen must-have requirements related to blended care (2), exercise principles (7), exercise delivery (3), exercise evaluation (4), and usability (2); ten should-haves; and five could-haves. Six movement components, including twelve exercises and five combination exercises, are required. For each exercise, appropriate exercise measures were defined. Conclusion: This study provides an overview of functional requirements, required exercises, and required exercise measures for home-based upper extremity rehabilitation using wearable motion sensors for stroke patients, which can be used to develop home-based upper extremity rehabilitation interventions. Moreover, the comprehensive and systematic requirement analysis used in this study can be applied by other researchers and developers when extracting requirements for designing a system or intervention in a medical context.
Original languageEnglish
JournalDisability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology
Early online date2023
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 2023

Keywords

  • Stroke
  • home-based
  • rehabilitation
  • requirements
  • upper extremity
  • wearables

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