RT Journal Article
T1 Evaluation of upper extremity neurorehabilitation using technology: 												A European Delphi consensus study within the EU COST Action Network on Robotics for Neurorehabilitation
A1 Hughes, Ann Marie
A1 Bouças, Sofia Barbosa
A1 Burridge, Jane H.
A1 Alt Murphy, Margit
A1 Buurke, Jaap
A1 Feys, Peter
A1 Klamroth-Marganska, Verena
A1 Lamers, Ilse
A1 Prange-Lasonder, Gerdienke
A1 Timmermans, Annick
A1 Keller, Thierry
AB Background: 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.
SN 1743-0003
YR 2016
FD 2016-09-23
LK https://hdl.handle.net/11556/3729
UL https://hdl.handle.net/11556/3729
LA eng
NO Hughes , 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
NO Publisher Copyright: © 2016 The Author(s).
NO The 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).
DS TECNALIA Publications
RD 26 jul 2024