Exploring people with stroke's perceptions of digital technologies in post-stroke rehabilitation - a qualitative study
Hestetun-Mandrup, Ann Marie; Hamre, Charlotta; Lund, Anne; Trægde Martinsen, Anne Catrine; He, Hong-Gu; Pikkarainen, Minna (2025-05-18)
Hestetun-Mandrup, Ann Marie
Hamre, Charlotta
Lund, Anne
Trægde Martinsen, Anne Catrine
He, Hong-Gu
Pikkarainen, Minna
Taylor & Francis
18.05.2025
Hestetun-Mandrup, A. M., Hamre, C., Lund, A., Trægde Martinsen, A. C., He, H. G., & Pikkarainen, M. (2025). Exploring people with stroke’s perceptions of digital technologies in post-stroke rehabilitation – a qualitative study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2025.2504615.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-202505193620
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-202505193620
Tiivistelmä
Abstract
Purpose
Stroke survivors often report unmet rehabilitation needs. Digital care has become increasingly prevalent, but limited research has explored its role in stroke rehabilitation, particularly from perspectives of people with chronic stroke. This study aims to explore how people with stroke perceive the usage of digital technologies in post-stroke rehabilitation.
Methods
A qualitative study was conducted from June 2022 to January 2023, encompassing semi-structured interviews with 17 stroke participants recruited from a Norwegian rehabilitation hospital. Reflexive thematic analysis was applied.
Results
Two themes were generated 1) “Still digitally connected” Digitalisation and its impact on everyday life and rehabilitation services, and 2) “To bring people closer” The need for personal contact and responsibility in digital rehabilitation services. Participants continued using digital technologies in rehabilitation and recognised digital self-management tools as beneficial for exercising and gaining information in the stroke process. They used various technologies to stay connected to the rehabilitation network, such as video-consultations, apps and exergaming.
Conclusions
This study highlights the importance of digital tools in managing the individuals’ rehabilitation post-stroke. Digital technologies have the potential to deliver an interactive and person-centred rehabilitation service between healthcare professionals and people with stroke, but evaluation of technology use challenges after stroke is emphasised.
Purpose
Stroke survivors often report unmet rehabilitation needs. Digital care has become increasingly prevalent, but limited research has explored its role in stroke rehabilitation, particularly from perspectives of people with chronic stroke. This study aims to explore how people with stroke perceive the usage of digital technologies in post-stroke rehabilitation.
Methods
A qualitative study was conducted from June 2022 to January 2023, encompassing semi-structured interviews with 17 stroke participants recruited from a Norwegian rehabilitation hospital. Reflexive thematic analysis was applied.
Results
Two themes were generated 1) “Still digitally connected” Digitalisation and its impact on everyday life and rehabilitation services, and 2) “To bring people closer” The need for personal contact and responsibility in digital rehabilitation services. Participants continued using digital technologies in rehabilitation and recognised digital self-management tools as beneficial for exercising and gaining information in the stroke process. They used various technologies to stay connected to the rehabilitation network, such as video-consultations, apps and exergaming.
Conclusions
This study highlights the importance of digital tools in managing the individuals’ rehabilitation post-stroke. Digital technologies have the potential to deliver an interactive and person-centred rehabilitation service between healthcare professionals and people with stroke, but evaluation of technology use challenges after stroke is emphasised.
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