TY - GEN
T1 - Applications to support cross-sectoral, person-centred and empowering stroke rehabilitation
T2 - Development, implementation, test, and evaluation of two co-designed applications
AU - Marwaa, Mille Nabsen
PY - 2024/1/5
Y1 - 2024/1/5
N2 - Introduction
Rehabilitation after stroke is crucial for enabling stroke survivors to develop the essential skills
needed to enhance their functioning, physical activity, independence, and participation in everyday
life activities. Central to achieving these goals are person-centred rehabilitation approaches that
empower stroke survivors and their significant others by tailoring interventions to their individual
needs and resources. Ensuring easy access to evidence-based stroke information, rehabilitation
plans, person-centred interventions, and seamless, coordinated, cross-sectoral stroke rehabilitation
are vital mechanisms of these approaches. Furthermore, the integration of information and
communication technologies (ICTs) and applications (apps) holds promising potential in supporting
person-centred stroke rehabilitation. Notably, the platforms in two known app-solutions, Mit
Sygehus and Genoptræn.dk, operating within the Southern region of Denmark, have the potential to
support cross-sectoral, person-centred, and empowering stroke rehabilitation.Aim
The overall aim of this PhD thesis was to develop, implement, test and evaluate the co-designed
content of two known app-solutions, Mit Sygehus and Genoptræn.dk, to support cross-sectoral,
person-centred and empowering stroke rehabilitation for stroke survivors and their significant
others. Design and methods
The overall design was the British Medical Research Council’s (MRC) framework for developing
and evaluating complex interventions within health care.Findings
Phase 1
Among the 46 studies included in the scoping review, the predominant focus was on stroke
survivors in the chronic stage of recovery. Only three studies applied apps that supported more than
one part of the complex rehabilitation process. This clearly underscored the necessity for
developing apps that support greater part of the stroke rehabilitation process, including acute and
subacute stroke rehabilitation, and the transfers between different rehabilitation settings.Phase 2
The content of two known app-solutions, namely, Mit Sygehus and Genoptræn.dk, was co-designed
based on stakeholders’ needs, prioritization, and research knowledge regarding existing apps, by
using a systematic Experience-based Co-design methodology.Phase 3
The developed prototypes of the apps were implemented, tested and evaluated in 10 stroke
survivors and seven significant others throughout cross-sectoral stroke rehabilitation. Stroke
survivors and significant others found the content of Mit Sygehus and Genoptræn.dk acceptable to
support cross-sectoral, person-centred, and empowering stroke rehabilitation. However, Mit
Sygehus was most accepted by significant others in the acute rehabilitation setting, while
Genoptræn.dk was most accepted by stroke survivors in the subacute rehabilitation setting. More
stringent implementation of both apps was needed; Genoptræn.dk should be implemented during acute stroke rehabilitation for stroke survivors being ready for self-training activities, and Mit
Sygehus should be integrated more continuously during subacute and municipal rehabilitation.Conclusion
The overall aim of this PhD project was to develop, implement, test, and evaluate the co-designed
content of two known app-solutions, Mit Sygehus and Genoptræn.dk, to support cross-sectoral,
person-centred and empowering stroke rehabilitation for stroke survivors and their significant
others. The iterative and flexible framework of the MRC framework for developing and evaluating
complex interventions overall guided the research phases within this PhD project.
Stroke survivors and their significant others found the content of Mit Sygehus and Genoptræn.dk
acceptable to support cross-sectoral, person-centred and empowering stroke rehabilitation. The
following facilitating intra -and interactional mechanisms were identified and accommodated to
support experiencing empowerment: access to free-of-charge apps, access to relevant knowledge,
gaining insights into and an overview of the rehabilitation process, support of coordinated and
coherent transfers between rehabilitation settings, person-centred exercises and guidelines using
video recordings, support from health professionals to create positive self-training habits, and
reduced significant other burden. Additionally, stroke survivors and their significant others felt an
ongoing sense of progress through use of the apps, which supported motivation and engagement
throughout the rehabilitation process. However, Mit Sygehus was most accepted by significant others in the acute rehabilitation setting,
while Genoptræn.dk was most accepted by stroke survivors in the subacute rehabilitation setting.
More stringent implementation of both apps was needed; Genoptræn.dk should be implemented
during acute stroke rehabilitation for stroke survivors being ready for self-training activities, and
Mit Sygehus should be integrated more continuously during subacute and municipal rehabilitation.
Furthermore, using the apps to support cognitive rehabilitation and follow-up support postrehabilitation needs further exploration.
AB - Introduction
Rehabilitation after stroke is crucial for enabling stroke survivors to develop the essential skills
needed to enhance their functioning, physical activity, independence, and participation in everyday
life activities. Central to achieving these goals are person-centred rehabilitation approaches that
empower stroke survivors and their significant others by tailoring interventions to their individual
needs and resources. Ensuring easy access to evidence-based stroke information, rehabilitation
plans, person-centred interventions, and seamless, coordinated, cross-sectoral stroke rehabilitation
are vital mechanisms of these approaches. Furthermore, the integration of information and
communication technologies (ICTs) and applications (apps) holds promising potential in supporting
person-centred stroke rehabilitation. Notably, the platforms in two known app-solutions, Mit
Sygehus and Genoptræn.dk, operating within the Southern region of Denmark, have the potential to
support cross-sectoral, person-centred, and empowering stroke rehabilitation.Aim
The overall aim of this PhD thesis was to develop, implement, test and evaluate the co-designed
content of two known app-solutions, Mit Sygehus and Genoptræn.dk, to support cross-sectoral,
person-centred and empowering stroke rehabilitation for stroke survivors and their significant
others. Design and methods
The overall design was the British Medical Research Council’s (MRC) framework for developing
and evaluating complex interventions within health care.Findings
Phase 1
Among the 46 studies included in the scoping review, the predominant focus was on stroke
survivors in the chronic stage of recovery. Only three studies applied apps that supported more than
one part of the complex rehabilitation process. This clearly underscored the necessity for
developing apps that support greater part of the stroke rehabilitation process, including acute and
subacute stroke rehabilitation, and the transfers between different rehabilitation settings.Phase 2
The content of two known app-solutions, namely, Mit Sygehus and Genoptræn.dk, was co-designed
based on stakeholders’ needs, prioritization, and research knowledge regarding existing apps, by
using a systematic Experience-based Co-design methodology.Phase 3
The developed prototypes of the apps were implemented, tested and evaluated in 10 stroke
survivors and seven significant others throughout cross-sectoral stroke rehabilitation. Stroke
survivors and significant others found the content of Mit Sygehus and Genoptræn.dk acceptable to
support cross-sectoral, person-centred, and empowering stroke rehabilitation. However, Mit
Sygehus was most accepted by significant others in the acute rehabilitation setting, while
Genoptræn.dk was most accepted by stroke survivors in the subacute rehabilitation setting. More
stringent implementation of both apps was needed; Genoptræn.dk should be implemented during acute stroke rehabilitation for stroke survivors being ready for self-training activities, and Mit
Sygehus should be integrated more continuously during subacute and municipal rehabilitation.Conclusion
The overall aim of this PhD project was to develop, implement, test, and evaluate the co-designed
content of two known app-solutions, Mit Sygehus and Genoptræn.dk, to support cross-sectoral,
person-centred and empowering stroke rehabilitation for stroke survivors and their significant
others. The iterative and flexible framework of the MRC framework for developing and evaluating
complex interventions overall guided the research phases within this PhD project.
Stroke survivors and their significant others found the content of Mit Sygehus and Genoptræn.dk
acceptable to support cross-sectoral, person-centred and empowering stroke rehabilitation. The
following facilitating intra -and interactional mechanisms were identified and accommodated to
support experiencing empowerment: access to free-of-charge apps, access to relevant knowledge,
gaining insights into and an overview of the rehabilitation process, support of coordinated and
coherent transfers between rehabilitation settings, person-centred exercises and guidelines using
video recordings, support from health professionals to create positive self-training habits, and
reduced significant other burden. Additionally, stroke survivors and their significant others felt an
ongoing sense of progress through use of the apps, which supported motivation and engagement
throughout the rehabilitation process. However, Mit Sygehus was most accepted by significant others in the acute rehabilitation setting,
while Genoptræn.dk was most accepted by stroke survivors in the subacute rehabilitation setting.
More stringent implementation of both apps was needed; Genoptræn.dk should be implemented
during acute stroke rehabilitation for stroke survivors being ready for self-training activities, and
Mit Sygehus should be integrated more continuously during subacute and municipal rehabilitation.
Furthermore, using the apps to support cognitive rehabilitation and follow-up support postrehabilitation needs further exploration.
U2 - 10.21996/g4zx-hr50
DO - 10.21996/g4zx-hr50
M3 - Ph.D. thesis
PB - Syddansk Universitet. Det Sundhedsvidenskabelige Fakultet
ER -