%0 Journal Article
%T Assistive/Socially Assistive Robotic Platform for Therapy and Recovery: Patient Perspectives
%A Matthew White
%A Mary Vining Radomski
%A Marsha Finkelstein
%A Daniel Allan Samuel Nilsson
%A Lars Ingimar Eugen Oddsson
%J International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/948087
%X Improving adherence to therapy is a critical component of advancing outcomes and reducing the cost of rehabilitation. A robotic platform was previously developed to explore how robotics could be applied to the social dimension of rehabilitation to improve adherence. This paper aims to report on feedback given by end users of the robotic platform as well as the practical applications that socially assistive robotics could have in the daily life activities of a patient. A group of 10 former and current patients interacted with the developed robotic platform during a simulated exercise session before taking an experience-based survey. A portion of these participants later provided verbal feedback as part of a focus group on the potential utility of such a platform. Identified applications included assistance with reaching exercise goals, managing to-do lists, and supporting participation in social and recreational activities. The study participants expressed that the personality characteristics of the robotic system should be adapted to individual preferences and that the assistance provided over time should align with the progress of their recovery. The results from this study are encouraging and will be useful for further development of socially assistive robotics. 1. Introduction Assistive robotics are often used in contemporary rehabilitation practice to support recovery from injury or condition-related impairments by helping patients perform exercises for which occupational and physical therapists typically provide hands-on assistance [1¨C4]. Socially assistive robotics provide noncontact user support and coaching to help patients adhere to home exercise and activity recommendations; this type of assistive robotics is at an earlier stage of development than robotics that involve physical interfaces and interactions with end users [5, 6]. Rehabilitative robotics has the potential to enhance adherence to rehabilitation recommendations, which is known to be difficult for those with chronic health conditions [7]. Research suggests that poor adherence compromises health outcomes [8], while high levels of therapy practice optimize motor recovery [9], underscoring the importance of strategies and technologies that bring rehabilitation support into patientsĄ¯ homes. Patients appear best able to follow through with rehabilitation exercise and activity recommendations with adherence support specifically tailored to their unique personal, social, and environmental requirements, enablers, and barriers [10]. By supporting each patientĄ¯s requirements for at-home
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijta/2013/948087/