User-Centred Design to Inform Requirements for a Remotely Administered Hybrid Functional Test (RAHFT) Protocol

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Functional testing is crucial for return-to-work (RTW) decisions.
• Current testing methods face challenges in access and availability.
• New approaches are needed to meet evolving healthcare demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To employ a user-centered design approach for developing remotely administered hybrid functional test (RAHFT) protocols.
• To gather and interpret end-user feedback from clinicians and patients.
• To define functional requirements for RAHFT.

Main Methods:

• Conducted interviews with 20 participants (10 clinicians, 10 patients) on current and prospective functional testing.
• Synthesized interview data to inform a focus group with clinician experts.
• Identified functional design requirements for RAHFT protocols.

Main Results:

• Patients prioritized equipment access, technology, safety, and personal connection in functional testing.
• Clinicians stressed the need for RAHFT to yield valid data for treatment planning and RTW outcomes.
• RAHFT protocols should capture both subjective and performance-based information.

Conclusions:

• Remotely administered hybrid functional test (RAHFT) protocols can facilitate early and safe return-to-work.
• RAHFT enhances testing availability and accessibility for individuals unable to attend in-person evaluations.
• This study's findings offer essential functional requirements for designing effective RAHFT protocols.