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Measuring What Matters: Redesigning Evaluation With Consumers to Understand Engagement in Hand Therapy Using Virtual
Margo Coffey1,2, Megan Simons2,3, Jessica Taylor4
1Occupational Therapy Department, Logan General Hospital, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Summary
Co-designing evaluations with consumers improved the assessment of virtual reality (VR) in hand therapy. This approach captured patient engagement and real-world needs, enhancing therapeutic intervention insights.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Health Services Research
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Consumer involvement is crucial for health service evaluations to align with patient priorities.
- This project focused on redesigning the evaluation of virtual reality (VR) in outpatient hand therapy.
- The goal was to better capture patient engagement with therapy through co-design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To redesign an evaluation of virtual reality (VR) in outpatient hand therapy.
- To incorporate consumer perspectives into the evaluation process.
- To better measure patient engagement with VR therapy.
Main Methods:
- The study was conducted in an outpatient hand therapy setting.
- The evaluation was redesigned from standardized quantitative measures to a value-based care framework (comfort, capability, calm).
- Questionnaires were co-developed with consumers and administered to patients and clinicians.
Main Results:
- Seven clinicians and 12 consumers participated in the redesigned evaluation.
- Virtual reality (VR) was found to enhance therapy engagement by creating a low-pressure, engaging environment.
- Contextual factors influencing VR use, such as space, technology, and guidance, were identified.
Conclusions:
- Co-designing the evaluation fundamentally shifted the understanding of project outcomes.
- Consumer involvement provided valuable insights into engagement with therapeutic interventions.
- This co-design approach is recommended for future hand therapy projects to ensure alignment with patient needs.
