The Flow State Scale for Rehabilitation Tasks: A New Flow Experience Questionnaire for Stroke Patients

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Psychology

Background:

• Flow experience, characterized by full engagement and enjoyment, is crucial for therapy adherence.
• Existing flow questionnaires lack validation for (sub)acute stroke patients undergoing neurorehabilitation.
• Accurate measurement of flow is essential to gauge patient engagement in therapeutic activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel flow questionnaire specifically for patients with (sub)acute stroke.
• To assess the psychometric properties of the new questionnaire in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• A single-center prospective cohort study was conducted in a neurorehabilitation unit.
• Fifty patients with (sub)acute stroke participated in the study.
• The Flow State Scale for Rehabilitation Tasks (FSSRT) was developed and its internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity were determined.

Main Results:

• The FSSRT demonstrated good internal consistency and excellent test-retest reliability.
• The scale comprises four components: concentration, pleasure, movement control, and absorption.
• Significant negative correlations with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale confirmed the FSSRT's good divergent validity.

Conclusions:

• The Flow State Scale for Rehabilitation Tasks (FSSRT) is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring flow experience in (sub)acute stroke patients.
• The FSSRT can be readily implemented in occupational and physical therapy settings.
• This tool provides valuable insights for therapists to tailor interventions and enhance patient engagement during rehabilitation.