Currently submitted to: JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
Date Submitted: Mar 31, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: Apr 17, 2026 - Jun 12, 2026
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Training Needs in the Use of Rehabilitation Technologies Among UK Health and Care Professionals: Scoping Review
ABSTRACT
Background:
Rehabilitation technologies are increasingly positioned as key enablers of accessible, scalable rehabilitation in the United Kingdom (UK), particularly in the context of population ageing and rising long‑term conditions. However, adoption in practice is often constrained by insufficient training for health and care professionals (HCPs). A systematic understanding of training needs is essential to support safe, effective, and sustainable implementation, yet no review has synthesized these needs across the breadth of rehabilitation technologies within the UK.
Objective:
This scoping review aimed to identify and map the training and education needs of UK HCPs related to rehabilitation technologies and to analyze these needs using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation–Behavior (COM‑B) model to inform the design of future training interventions.
Methods:
Following JBI methodology and PRISMA‑ScR guidelines, nine databases were searched from inception to November 2025. Data were extracted using a modified JBI tool and synthesized descriptively. Training needs were coded to the TDF and mapped to COM‑B. Methodological quality was appraised using JBI critical appraisal tools.
Results:
Sixteen studies (2012–2025) involving 1,032 HCPs met the inclusion criteria. Technologies were grouped into remote rehabilitation, device‑based, and immersive modalities, most commonly applied in neurorehabilitation. Training provision was limited and inconsistent. Identified needs predominantly aligned with psychological and physical capability domains, including knowledge of safety and evidence, remote assessment and intervention skills, device operation, and patient coaching. Fewer needs related to reflective motivation. Contextual factors influencing training uptake included protected time, access to resources, and flexible delivery formats.
Conclusions:
Training for rehabilitation technologies in the UK remains limited and disproportionately focused on capability‑related needs. Addressing motivational and contextual determinants may enhance adoption and integration into routine practice. These findings informed the development of the RehabTech‑PPC approach, offering a structured, theory‑informed framework to guide the design of future training programs in rehabilitation and assistive technologies. Clinical Trial: The review was registered with Open Science Framework on 31 October 2025: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/47UFM
Citation
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