Evaluation of upper extremity neurorehabilitation using technology: A European Delphi consensus study within the EU COST Action Network on Robotics for Neurorehabilitation

dc.contributor.authorHughes, Ann Marie
dc.contributor.authorBouças, Sofia Barbosa
dc.contributor.authorBurridge, Jane H.
dc.contributor.authorAlt Murphy, Margit
dc.contributor.authorBuurke, Jaap
dc.contributor.authorFeys, Peter
dc.contributor.authorKlamroth-Marganska, Verena
dc.contributor.authorLamers, Ilse
dc.contributor.authorPrange-Lasonder, Gerdienke
dc.contributor.authorTimmermans, Annick
dc.contributor.authorKeller, Thierry
dc.contributor.institutionTecnalia Research & Innovation
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-24T12:07:05Z
dc.date.available2024-07-24T12:07:05Z
dc.date.issued2016-09-23
dc.descriptionPublisher Copyright: © 2016 The Author(s).
dc.description.abstractBackground: The need for cost-effective neurorehabilitation is driving investment into technologies for patient assessment and treatment. Translation of these technologies into clinical practice is limited by a paucity of evidence for cost-effectiveness. Methodological issues, including lack of agreement on assessment methods, limit the value of meta-analyses of trials. In this paper we report the consensus reached on assessment protocols and outcome measures for evaluation of the upper extremity in neurorehabilitation using technology. The outcomes of this research will be part of the development of European guidelines. Methods: A rigorous, systematic and comprehensive modified Delphi study incorporated questions and statements generation, design and piloting of consensus questionnaire and five consensus experts groups consisting of clinicians, clinical researchers, non-clinical researchers, and engineers, all with working experience of neurological assessments or technologies. For data analysis, two major groups were created: i) clinicians (e.g., practicing therapists and medical doctors) and ii) researchers (clinical and non-clinical researchers (e.g. movement scientists, technology developers and engineers). Results: Fifteen questions or statements were identified during an initial ideas generation round, following which the questionnaire was designed and piloted. Subsequently, questions and statements went through five consensus rounds over 20 months in four European countries. Two hundred eight participants: 60 clinicians (29 %), 35 clinical researchers (17 %), 77 non-clinical researchers (37 %) and 35 engineers (17 %) contributed. At each round questions and statements were added and others removed. Consensus (≥69 %) was obtained for 22 statements on i) the perceived importance of recommendations; ii) the purpose of measurement; iii) use of a minimum set of measures; iv) minimum number, timing and duration of assessments; v) use of technology-generated assessments and the restriction of clinical assessments to validated outcome measures except in certain circumstances for research. Conclusions: Consensus was reached by a large international multidisciplinary expert panel on measures and protocols for assessment of the upper limb in research and clinical practice. Our results will inform the development of best practice for upper extremity assessment using technologies, and the formulation of evidence-based guidelines for the evaluation of upper extremity neurorehabilitation.en
dc.description.sponsorshipThe travel and accommodation costs to the planned COST meetings and workshops was funded by the European Co-operation in science and technology (COST) EU COST Action TD1006 (2011–2015).
dc.description.statusPeer reviewed
dc.identifier.citationHughes , A M , Bouças , S B , Burridge , J H , Alt Murphy , M , Buurke , J , Feys , P , Klamroth-Marganska , V , Lamers , I , Prange-Lasonder , G , Timmermans , A & Keller , T 2016 , ' Evaluation of upper extremity neurorehabilitation using technology : A European Delphi consensus study within the EU COST Action Network on Robotics for Neurorehabilitation ' , Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation , vol. 13 , no. 1 , 86 . https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-016-0192-z
dc.identifier.doi10.1186/s12984-016-0192-z
dc.identifier.issn1743-0003
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11556/3729
dc.identifier.urlhttp://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84988624263&partnerID=8YFLogxK
dc.language.isoeng
dc.relation.ispartofJournal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
dc.relation.projectIDEuropean Cooperation in Science and Technology, COST, TD1006
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.keywordsAssessment
dc.subject.keywordsEvaluation
dc.subject.keywordsNeurology
dc.subject.keywordsOutcome measures
dc.subject.keywordsRehabilitation technology
dc.subject.keywordsRobotics
dc.subject.keywordsUpper extremity
dc.subject.keywordsRehabilitation
dc.subject.keywordsHealth Informatics
dc.titleEvaluation of upper extremity neurorehabilitation using technology: A European Delphi consensus study within the EU COST Action Network on Robotics for Neurorehabilitationen
dc.typejournal article
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