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JMIR Publications, JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies, 2(8), p. e12029, 2021

DOI: 10.2196/12029

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Homes of Stroke Survivors Are a Challenging Environment for Rehabilitation Technologies

Journal article published in 2021 by Stefan Rennick-Egglestone ORCID, Sue Mawson ORCID
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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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.