JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

As individuals age, the incidence and mortality rates of cerebrovascular accidents significantly rise, leading to fine motor impairments and cognitive deficits that impact daily life. In modern occupational therapy, assessing manual dexterity and cognitive functions typically involves observation of patients interacting with physical objects. However, this pen-and-paper method is not only time-consuming, relying heavily on therapist involvement, but also often inaccurate.

Objective:

Digital assessment methods therefore have the potential to increase the accuracy of diagnosis as well as decrease the workload of healthcare professionals.

Methods:

This study examines the feasibility of an interactive electronic pegboard for the assessment and rehabilitation of stroke patients. We explored its clinical applicability by examining the relationship among stages, timing, and difficulty settings as well as their alignment with patient capabilities. Ten participants used a prototype of the pegboard for functional and task assessments; questionnaire interviews were conducted simultaneously to collect user feedback.

Results:

Results demonstrated that stroke patients consistently required more time to complete tasks than expected, significantly deviating from the initial timeframes. Additionally, the participants exhibited a slight reduction in performance levels in both manual dexterity and cognitive abilities. Insights from questionnaire responses revealed that the majority of participants found the prototype interface easy and enjoyable to use, with good functionality.

Conclusions:

This preliminary investigation supports the efficacy of interactive electronic pegboards for the rehabilitation of the hand functions of patients as well as training their attentional and cognitive abilities. This digital technology could potentially alleviate the burden of healthcare workers, positioning it as a valuable and intelligent precision healthcare tool. Clinical Trial: The research protocol underwent rigorous scrutiny and received approval from the Research Ethics Board of Chang Gung Hospital (Reference No: IRB/REC No: 202301197A3).