JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Although assistive technology for cognition has high potential to help individuals having sustained a severe traumatic brain injury prepare meals safely, no ATC has yet been developed to assist in this activity for this specific population.

Objective:

The goal of this study was to conduct a needs analysis as a first step to design an assistive technology for cognition to support meal preparation for persons with severe TBI, name COOK. This needs analysis included describing cooking-related risks to depict future users’ profiles and to establish the clinical requirements of COOK to support meal preparation.

Methods:

The needs of three future users were evaluated in their real-world environments (supported-living residence) using an ecological assessment of everyday activities and through consultations with the COOK design team (rehabilitation professionals, computer scientists), future users (residents and their family members), stakeholders from the residence (staff, health professionals) and occupational therapists working with a traumatic brain injury population. The needs analysis was guided by the Disability Creation Process framework. Within a user-centered design study, findings and evidence-based practice for cognitive rehabilitation were used to develop the clinical requirements for COOK.

Results:

Three profiles of future users supported the need to customize COOK to users’ specific needs. Two main clinical requirements were identified: 1) provide cognitive support (interventions from the evidence-based practice principle in cognitive rehabilitation) to facilitate meal preparation and 2) ensure safety.

Conclusions:

User-centered design can help translate needs into clinical and design requirements to guide the development of an assistive technology for cognition to facilitate meal preparation in individuals with severe traumatic brain injury.