School of Rehabilitation, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Institut universitaire sur la réadaptation en déficience physique de Montréal, CIUSSS Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2023 Aug;18(6):953-962. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2021.1938710. Epub 2021 Jun 30.
To evaluate the perceived usability and utility of using a soft robotic glove to rehabilitate hand function following a stroke.
A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used to consult a convenience sample of 14 experienced occupational therapists (OTs) practicing within a specialised stroke rehabilitation program. All OTs participated in one 60-to-90-minute individual consultation during which the attributes of a recently-developed soft robotic glove (ExoGlove) were presented before they could test it on themselves. After this consultation, OTs completed the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire and answered open-ended questions focussing on the usability and utility of soft robotic gloves framed according to the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT).
The OTs perceived the glove's usability as being moderate-to-good on the SUS (median score= 63.75 on a scale of 100). Thematic analysis revealed the importance of specifically considering elements such as ease of use (e.g. simplicity and speed), cost, movement precision, durability, and safety, when developing soft robotic gloves such as the ExoGlove.
Engagement in a continuous improvement process is essential to maximise the perceived usability and utility of soft robotic gloves, particularly of the ExoGlove, through their final development phase before pilot testing their effects and effectiveness for post-stroke hand rehabilitation.Implications for rehabilitationAll occupational therapists anticipate that a soft robotic glove such as the ExoGlove will allow them to increase treatment intensity and best aligns with principles of neuroplasticity.The clinical judgement and guidance of OTs, developed through practice, experience, and knowledge, remain essential to safely and efficiently exercise with a soft robotic glove.Achieving a balance between effort and performance expectancies is essential in developing and improving the functionality of soft robotic gloves, as with each additional functionality comes new challenges that impact its successful transition to a clinical setting.
评估使用软机器人手套在中风后康复手部功能的感知可用性和实用性。
采用汇聚平行混合方法设计，咨询了一个特殊的中风康复计划中经验丰富的 14 名职业治疗师（OT）的便利样本。所有 OT 都参加了一次 60 到 90 分钟的个人咨询，在此期间，他们在亲自试用之前介绍了最近开发的软机器人手套（ExoGlove）的属性。咨询结束后，OT 完成了系统可用性量表（SUS）问卷，并根据统一接受和使用技术理论（UTAUT）回答了有关软机器人手套可用性和实用性的开放性问题。
OT 认为手套的可用性在 SUS 上为中等至良好（100 分制的中位数评分为 63.75）。主题分析揭示了在开发软机器人手套（如 ExoGlove）时，特别需要考虑易用性（例如简单性和速度）、成本、运动精度、耐用性和安全性等元素的重要性。
通过软机器人手套的最终开发阶段，在进行中风后手部康复的效果和有效性试点测试之前，不断改进的过程对于最大限度地提高软机器人手套的感知可用性和实用性至关重要，特别是对于 ExoGlove。
所有职业治疗师都预计，像 ExoGlove 这样的软机器人手套将使他们能够增加治疗强度，并且最符合神经可塑性原则。OT 的临床判断和指导，通过实践、经验和知识发展而来，仍然是安全有效地使用软机器人手套进行锻炼的必要条件。在开发和改进软机器人手套的功能时，在努力和绩效期望之间取得平衡至关重要，因为每个附加功能都会带来新的挑战，从而影响其成功过渡到临床环境。
