Medical Device Based on a Virtual Reality-Based Upper Limb Rehabilitation Software: Usability Evaluation Through...

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Clinical Usability Engineering

Background:

• Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly used in rehabilitation therapy.
• VR-based upper-limb rehabilitation software requires usability evaluations for effectiveness.
• User satisfaction and identification of usability issues are critical for VR software adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate the usability of VR-based upper-limb rehabilitation software.
• Identify usability challenges from the perspective of occupational therapists.
• Provide insights to enhance user satisfaction with VR rehabilitation tools.

Main Methods:

• Usability testing conducted with 6 occupational therapists.
• Employed cognitive walkthroughs and surveys for data collection.
• Simulated clinical scenarios to assess software operation and user feedback.

Main Results:

• Identified areas for improvement: graphical user interface (GUI), natural user interface (NUI), and user manuals.
• Average ease-of-use score for the user interface was 1.58 (1=very easy, 5=very difficult).
• Qualitative insights revealed specific user difficulties and their root causes.

Conclusions:

• Focusing on occupational therapists' needs is key to improving VR rehabilitation software usability.
• Recommendations include GUI enhancements, NUI refinements, and improved user documentation.
• Future research should address software refinement and clinical efficacy for maximized therapeutic potential.