Wodu Chioma Obinuchi, Sweeney Gillian, Kerr Andrew
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Biomedical Technology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Stroke Unit, University Hospital Wishaw, Wishaw, United Kingdom.
J Hand Ther. 2025 Jan-Mar;38(1):52-60. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2024.08.005. Epub 2024 Dec 13.
One aspect that is often impaired in people living with stroke is the motor function of the upper limb.
To explore the reasons behind the low focus on upper limb rehabilitation after stroke and to understand the views of rehabilitation professionals (RPs) on the use of upper limb rehabilitation technologies for self-management of stroke.
A qualitative descriptive design that employs a one-on-one semistructured interview method.
A total of nine RPs (physiotherapist n = 6 and occupational therapist n = 3) participated. Interviews were held in person or via teleconferencing, recorded, and transcribed verbatim. All transcribed data were analyzed using thematic analysis, with an inductive approach.
The average length of practice years of the RPs in this study was 24.7 ± 9.8, with 16.44 ± 9.19 experience in neurological rehabilitation. The views gathered from all nine (9/9) RPs point to a low focus on upper limb rehabilitation for people living with stroke. In an inpatient setting, this was attributed to the rehabilitation goals/ priorities (of people living with stroke, RPs, and/or hospital's rehabilitation/stroke units), inadequate resources, and the inability of the RPs to deal with the high incidence of stroke. After discharge, it was attributed to the cost of securing private rehabilitation and poor knowledge of technologies that can support self-rehabilitation. The cost, design, and inadequacy of evidence on the effectiveness of some available upper limb rehabilitation technologies were noted as reasons that could make it difficult for RPs to promote the use of rehabilitation technologies.
There is a low focus on upper limb rehabilitation after a stroke, particularly during the early stages, owing to the pursuit of early discharge which appears to attach higher priority to the lower limb in addition to inadequate resources and lack of capacity to deal with the high incidence of stroke.
中风患者常受损的一个方面是上肢的运动功能。
探讨中风后上肢康复关注度低的原因，并了解康复专业人员（RPs）对使用上肢康复技术进行中风自我管理的看法。
采用一对一的半结构化访谈方法的定性描述性设计。
共有9名康复专业人员（物理治疗师n = 6，职业治疗师n = 3）参与。访谈通过面对面或电话会议进行，记录并逐字转录。所有转录数据采用归纳法进行主题分析。
本研究中康复专业人员的平均执业年限为24.7±9.8年，神经康复经验为16.44±9.19年。从所有9名（9/9）康复专业人员收集的观点表明，中风患者的上肢康复关注度较低。在住院环境中，这归因于（中风患者、康复专业人员和/或医院康复/中风单元的）康复目标/优先级、资源不足以及康复专业人员无法应对中风的高发病率。出院后，这归因于获得私人康复的成本以及对支持自我康复技术的了解不足。一些现有上肢康复技术的成本、设计以及有效性证据不足被认为是康复专业人员难以推广使用康复技术的原因。
中风后上肢康复关注度较低，尤其是在早期阶段，这是由于追求早期出院，似乎更优先考虑下肢，此外还存在资源不足以及应对中风高发病率能力欠缺的问题。
