A qualitative study to elicit user requirements for lower limb wearable exoskeletons for gait rehabilitation in spinal cord injury

Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 2023 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-023-01264-y · Published: October 10, 2023

Spinal Cord Injury Assistive Technology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study explores what people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) and their clinicians think about using wearable robots (WR) for rehabilitation. The research involved interviewing 15 individuals with SCI and 10 clinicians across three rehabilitation centers in Spain to understand their needs and expectations. The study found that patients and clinicians often have different ideas about what's important, suggesting that both groups should be involved in designing these technologies to ensure they meet everyone's needs.

Study Duration

March 30, 2021 – March 11, 2022

Participants

15 people with SCI and 10 clinicians

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Limited agreement exists between patients and clinicians regarding the requirements for lower limb exoskeletons, highlighting the need for inclusive design processes.
2
Engaging users with prior technology experience is beneficial, as they exhibit strong internal consensus and articulate well-defined requirements.
3
The limited accessibility and availability of lower limb exoskeletons for gait rehabilitation were commonly raised in interviews.

Research Summary

This study aimed to determine a comprehensive set of requirements, perceptions, and expectations that people with spinal cord injury and the clinicians in charge of their rehabilitation have regarding the use of WR for walking rehabilitation. The limited agreement percentage between patients and clinicians indicates that including both types of users in the design process of these technologies is important, given that their requirements are complementary. This study adds up the knowledge available in the literature and the new codes found in our data, which enlighten important aspects that ought to be addressed in the field to develop technologies that respond to users’ needs, are usable and feasible to implement in their intended contexts.

Practical Implications

Inclusive Design

Incorporate feedback from both patients and clinicians during the design phase of wearable robots to address their complementary needs and expectations.

Experienced User Engagement

Prioritize engaging users with previous experience with wearable robots to leverage their well-defined requirements and internal consensus.

Accessibility Improvement

Focus on enhancing the accessibility and availability of lower limb exoskeletons to ensure they reach the intended users.

Study Limitations

1
Findings may not be statistically generalizable to the broader population due to the qualitative nature of the research.
2
Data collection was held in Spain, which could represent cultural differences compared to countries without a public health system.
3
Differences in chronicity and injury severity between subgroups of people with SCI could have influenced user perspectives.

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