Technologies to improve the participation of stroke patients in their home environment

To identify possible technological solutions that can contribute to stroke patients' participation at home.

In this qualitative case study, data on factors that negatively influenced participation at home were collected via semi-structured interviews with stroke patients (n = 6). Additionally, data on possible technologies to improve this participation were collected via a group interview with experts (n = 4). The domains "cognition, mobility, self-care, and getting along" (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) guided the data collection and interpretation; open, axial and selective coding was part of the analysis.

Patients reported 21 factors negatively influencing participation at home, including psychological, cognitive, and physical factors. Experts suggested technological solutions regarding these factors to increase participation of stroke patients; digital assistants, apps, and virtual reality were frequently mentioned. To facilitate the use of these technologies, experts indicated the importance of involving patients in their design. They also suggested that rehabilitation specialists and family members could support the uptake and use of technologies.

Various technologies were identified by experts as having the potential to improve the participation of stroke patients in their homes. Future research may study the influence of these technologies on the actual participation of stroke patients at home.Implications for rehabilitationThe identified technological solutions can support rehabilitation specialists in guiding stroke patients towards technologies that can support a patient's participation at home.Rehabilitation specialists can be champions in introducing, recommending and promoting technologies to stroke patients and their families, as well as in training them to use technologies.Virtual reality as a technology can be part of rehabilitation, not only to train stroke patients in daily life activities but also to increase empathy and understanding in caregivers and carers on stroke impairments.Rehabilitation specialists can recommend technologies integrated in daily life and presented as general consumer goods; stroke patients are more likely to adopt these kind of technologies.