Homes of Stroke Survivors Are a Challenging Environment for Rehabilitation Technologies

Rennick-Egglestone, Stefan; Mawson, Sue

Abstract

The design of digital technologies that support poststroke rehabilitation at home has been a topic of research for some time. If technology is to have a large-scale impact on rehabilitation practice, then we need to understand how to create technologies that are appropriate for the domestic environment and for the needs and motivations of those living there. This paper reflects on the research conducted in the Motivating Mobility project (UK Engineering and Physical Science Research Council: EP/F00382X/1). We conducted sensitizing studies to develop a foundational understanding of the homes of stroke survivors, participatory design sessions situated in the home, and experimental deployments of prototype rehabilitation technologies. We identified four challenges specific to the homes of stroke survivors and relevant to the deployment of rehabilitation technologies: identifying a location for rehabilitation technology, negotiating social relationships present in the home, avoiding additional stress in households at risk of existential stress, and providing for patient safety. We conclude that skilled workers may be needed to enable successful technology deployment, systematizing the mapping of the home may be beneficial, and education is a viable focus for rehabilitation technologies.

Citation

Rennick-Egglestone, S., & Mawson, S. (2021). Homes of Stroke Survivors Are a Challenging Environment for Rehabilitation Technologies. JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies, 8(2), Article e12029. https://doi.org/10.2196/12029

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 11, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jun 17, 2021
• Publication Date: Jun 17, 2021
• Deposit Date: Mar 12, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 17, 2021
• Journal: JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
• Electronic ISSN: 2369-2529
• Publisher: JMIR Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 2
• Article Number: e12029
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/12029
• Keywords: Domestic rehabilitation technology; brain injury; stroke; research through design
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5388788
• Publisher URL: https://rehab.jmir.org/2021/2/e12029