A survey to assess perspectives of people with chronic stroke about customized safety harnesses for dance-based exergaming in home settings

Abstract

Background: Early dance-based exergaming (DBExG) trials in people with chronic stroke (PwCS) have shown promising results, but there remains a lack of knowledge if PwCS are interested in receiving such training in their homes and the applicability of a fall-protection safety harness in the home environment.

Objective: To survey people with chronic stroke to understand the perspectives and preferences of various customized safety harnesses for home-based harness assisted dance-based exergaming rehabilitation.

Methods: Participants were included in this survey study if they had a stroke, lived in the community, and understood English. Participants completed a study-specific safety harness survey via mail, in-person, or online. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample and survey responses.

Results: One hundred two survey responses were returned. The majority of participants voted for a door mountable harness (51%), side-release style buckle (58%), and preferred to receive a manual to explain how to use the harness (51%). Seventy-eight percent of the participants required permission to install or use a harness system in their homes. More than half of the participants preferred exhibiting independence by strapping the harness themselves (68%), along with choosing to live independently (the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, comfortably, and able also perform their activities of daily living, regardless of physical ability level) (89%).

Conclusions: PwCS opted to use ShA-DBExG in their homes. The current survey serves as a guideline to develop, customize, and prescribe home-based ShA-DBExG rehabilitation.