JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Robotic lower limb exoskeletons have emerged as promising tools in clinical rehabilitation of patients with lower limb paralysis due to neurological disease, stroke, or spinal cord injury. Identified benefits in gait function rehabilitation include improved gait function, cardiovascular effects, enhanced training quality, patient motivation, and reduced physical and psychological workload for therapists. Despite the identified benefits, successful adoption of this technology largely depends on therapists’ user acceptance.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to explore physiotherapists’ perceptions of using robot-assisted lower-limb gait training in specialized neurological rehabilitation by using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) framework.

Methods:

A qualitative, exploratory research design with a deductive approach was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven expert physiotherapists in a Norwegian specialized rehabilitation hospital. Data collection and analysis were guided by the UTAUT framework.

Results:

The physiotherapists’ use of lower limb exoskeletons was greatly influenced by perceived benefits for patients or by challenges such as usability issues, the time required for adjustment to each patient, and lack of personnel resources to facilitate their use. Thus, perceived usefulness and facilitating conditions (or lack thereof) had a great influence on physiotherapist intentions to use and on actual use of the exoskeleton.

Conclusions:

This study identified several factors influencing the physiotherapists’ acceptance and integration of the lower limb exoskeleton. Available resources such as time and personnel were emphasized as important factors to increase use of the exoskeleton in specialized rehabilitation. Our findings may inform service providers and engineers in specialized neurological rehabilitation settings.