Technology for Young Adults with Stroke: An Australian Environmental Scan

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Digital Health

Background:

• Young stroke survivors (18-30 years) face unique challenges post-stroke.
• Existing technological resources for this demographic are not well-documented.
• Technology offers potential solutions for rehabilitation and support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and compile technological resources for young adults (18-30 years) with stroke in Australia.
• To categorize available resources based on their function (e.g., limb movement, speech, medication reminders, peer support).
• To assess the cost and platform availability of these technological resources.

Main Methods:

• An environmental scan was conducted from December 2023 to March 2024.
• Data was collected from websites, app stores, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, organizations, technology developers, and healthcare professionals.
• 114 technological resources were identified and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Resources included limb retraining (11%), speech rehabilitation (40%), medication reminders (20%), and social media for peer support (29%).
• Most limb movement and medication reminder apps were free, while speech apps had associated costs.
• Social media resources were primarily on Facebook (64%), with unclear age targeting in 46% of posts.

Conclusions:

• A range of technological resources exists to support young stroke survivors in Australia.
• Cost accessibility varies significantly, with speech rehabilitation apps being a notable expense.
• Improved age specificity in social media resources is needed to effectively reach young stroke survivors.