A proposal for an Italian minimum data set assessment protocol for robot-assisted rehabilitation: a Delphi study

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Robotics in Medicine
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Lack of a standardized evaluation protocol for robotic therapy in stroke patients hinders consistent assessment of treatment efficacy.
• Existing methods for evaluating stroke recovery after robotic intervention lack universal agreement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify a Minimum Data Set Assessment Protocol through an agreement-based survey.
• Establish a consensus on essential assessment tools for robotic neurorehabilitation in stroke.

Main Methods:

• A 3-round Delphi survey was conducted with experts from fourteen rehabilitation centers.
• Experts rated proposed assessment items using a 5-point Likert scale.
• The survey focused on identifying evaluation tools aligned with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) domains.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive list of assessment tools was identified for both upper and lower limb robotic rehabilitation.
• Upper limb tools include Fugl-Meyer, Motricity Index, and Modified Barthel Index.
• Lower limb tools include 10 meter and 6 minutes walking tests, Timed Up and Go, and Modified Barthel Index.

Conclusions:

• The Delphi survey successfully identified a shared assessment protocol for evaluating robotic-assisted rehabilitation in stroke patients.
• This consensus protocol provides a common language for clinicians and researchers in robotic rehabilitation assessments.
• The protocol facilitates consistent and reliable evaluation of real-world improvements in stroke survivors undergoing robotic therapy.