Rehabilitation Supported by Technology: Protocol for an International Cocreation and User Experience Study

Abstract

Background Living labs in the health and well-being domain have become increasingly common over the past decade but vary in available infrastructure, implemented study designs, and outcome measures. The Horizon 2020 Project Virtual Health and Wellbeing Living Lab Infrastructure aims to harmonize living lab procedures and open living lab infrastructures to facilitate and promote research activities in the health and well-being domain in Europe and beyond. This protocol will describe the design of a joint research activity, focusing on the use of innovative technology for both rehabilitation interventions and data collection in a rehabilitation context. Objective With this joint research activity, this study primarily aims to gain insight into each living lab’s infrastructure and procedures to harmonize health and well-being living lab procedures and infrastructures in Europe and beyond, particularly in the context of rehabilitation. Secondarily, this study aims to investigate the potential of innovative technologies for rehabilitation through living lab methodologies. Methods This study has a mixed methods design comprising multiple phases. There are two main phases of data collection: cocreation (phase 1) and small-scale pilot studies (phase 2), which are preceded by a preliminary harmonization of procedures among the different international living labs. An intermediate phase further allows the implementation of minor adjustments to the intervention or protocol depending on the input that was obtained in the cocreation phase. A total of 6 small-scale pilot studies using innovative technologies for intervention or data collection will be performed across 4 countries. The target study sample comprises patients with stroke and older adults with mild cognitive impairment. The third and final phases involve Delphi procedures to reach a consensus on harmonized procedures and protocols. Results Phase 1 data collection will begin in March 2022, and phase 2 data collection will begin in June 2022. Results will include the output of the cocreation sessions, small-scale pilot studies, and advice on harmonizing procedures and protocols for health and well-being living labs focusing on rehabilitation. Conclusions The knowledge gained by the execution of this research will lead to harmonized procedures and protocols in a rehabilitation context for health and well-being living labs in Europe and beyond. In addition to the harmonized procedures and protocols in rehabilitation, we will also be able to provide new insights for improving the implementation of innovative technologies in rehabilitation. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/34537

Rehabilitation assisted by Space technology—A SAHC approach in immobilized patients—A case of stroke

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“…Within 4 years of stroke onset, the resulting decreased physical activity (Gebruers et al, 2010) leads to fatigue within the first year (Duncan et al, 2012), and after 4 years of stroke onset, it leads to significant reductions with more than 30% evident in autonomy and in socializing participations (Gadidi et al, 2011). More than 75% of stroke patients receive rehabilitation therapy (Buntin et al, 2010), while many patients remain with residual functional disabilities, increasing the need for effective stroke care and the demand for individualized interventions (Mazrooyisebdani et al, 2018), targeted to improve stroke survivors' lives by reducing disabilities and by regaining independence (Dobkin, 2005;Bindawas and Vennu, 2016).…”

Living labs for civic technologies: a case study. Community infrastructuring for a volunteer firefighting service

“…All over Europe, various living lab (LL) initiatives are being implemented to address quality of life issues, by exploring digital solutions together with the concerned citizens. The European project NLAB4CIT 1 aims to engage with citizens in the co-production of public services through digital technologies at local level, so that services are more responsive to emerging social needs. The project is expected to set up a network of Local Laboratories on civic technologies, starting from three laboratories in the cities of Collegno (Italy), Roeselare (Belgium), and Kaisariani (Greece).…”

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