Qualitative Study on Patient and Therapist Perspective of Using Motion Detection Systems in Neurological Rehabilitation

Background: Markerless motion detection systems such as Microsoft Kinect are promising tools for client-centred task-oriented training in central nervous disorders, but therapists and patients have specific expectations and... [ view full abstract ]

Background: Markerless motion detection systems such as Microsoft Kinect are promising tools for client-centred task-oriented training in central nervous disorders, but therapists and patients have specific expectations and requirements for use in neurological rehabilitation. Therefore the aim of this study is to assess the expectations and requirements of therapists and patients towards the use of Microsoft Kinect in neurological rehabilitation.
Methods: A qualitative design was used in which seven focus groups were performed with patients with neurological disorders (n = 15) and physio- and occupational therapists (n = 22) in four rehabilitation centres. The grounded theory was used to analyse the data.
Results: It was found that knowledge, use and experience cannot be separated as they are all connected. Therefore, to use Microsoft Kinect in rehabilitation, people need knowledge and experience with the Microsoft Kinect system. In order to be useful in rehabilitation, the Microsoft Kinect system needs to be easy to use independently, easy to set up, low cost and small. The system should also provide patients and therapists with feedback of their performance and/or results.
Conclusions: Informing therapists and patients about advantages of the Microsoft Kinect is very important before and during first use. According to therapists and patients, the Kinect-based systems should provide client-centred feedback, have an interface that is easy to use (independently), and easy to set up, be small and affordable. Opportunities are created for use of Microsoft Kinect into a new client-centred task-oriented system in neurological rehabilitation , by integrating the expectations and requirements.