Technology-supported client centered rehabilitation: Do patients use technologies and which skills do patients with neck pain prefer to train on?

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this investigation is to inventorize training preferences and motives for motor rehabilitation of patients with neck pain. This knowledge is paramount in order to develop client-centered training for technology supported rehabilitation. Technology supported rehabilitation offers opportunities for increasing exercise variability during rehabilitation and may support patients to be compliant with home exercise regimes. The second aim of this study is to evaluate to which extent patients with neck pain are familiar with the use of technologies. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted based on the Neck Disability Index (NDI) according to a method by Timmermans et al (Disability and Rehabilitation 31(16), 2009) and a questionnaire on technology use was conducted. The technologies that were examined were: PC/laptop, tablet, smartphone, mobile phone, MP3 player. Medical ethics approval for the study has been obtained from the medical ethical committee of Jessa Hospital (Hasselt) and Hasselt University (Belgium). Results: The preliminary results that are reported are based on the results of interviews with 16 patients (4 male and 12 female; age: average=41.5, SD=13.2) with neck pain (NDI: average= 18.12, SD=5.76) at the start of their rehabilitation program at Jessa Hospital (Hasselt, Belgium). The skills that patients prefer to train on most are: lifting (household and work), sitting (desk work and home), driving a car, walking, and ironing. Most training preferences are related to household or work related activities. The motivation of patients for training on these skills pertains to being fit for work (financial drive & participation in society), parenthood, partnership, hobby, and personal health. Respondents with neck pain are familiar with the proposed technologies: Only the MP3 player is “never used” by 8 patients, and “seldom used” by 3 patients. All patients use or a mobile phone (2/3 of the patients), or a smart phone (1/3). All patients use a computer or laptop (50% of the patients daily). All but two patients use a tablet (more than 60% daily). The electronic devices, as mentioned in the questionnaire, are used more often (twice as much) for personal use than for work purposes, illustrating voluntary adoption. PC/laptop and tablets are, while mainly used for communication and information searches, also used to visit social network sites, games, music and to watch a film. Mobile phones and smartphones are mainly used for communication purposes.

Conclusions: Patients with neck pain prefer to train on exercises that support the improvement of everyday life skills at work or during household activities, such as lifting and (work activities while) sitting. They have adopted the use of technologies in their professional and personal life which lowers the threshold for the adoption of rehabilitation technologies.