Brain Neurorehabil.  2013 Mar;6(1):33-40. 10.12786/bn.2013.6.1.33.

The Use of Smartphone Applications in Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea

• Im H
• Song JY
• Cho YK
• Kim YJ
• Kim HJ
• Kang YJ

• KMID: 2270737
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12786/bn.2013.6.1.33

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
We studied the use of smartphone technology in stroke rehabilitation in Korea and gathered opinions on how it would best be utilized it in a clinical setting. METHOD: Physiatrists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and rehabilitation ward nurses were surveyed to examine smartphone propagation among the rehabilitation team, current therapeutic knowledge, the use of smartphone technology, and perceptions regarding the potential therapeutic use of smartphones in rehabilitation. The respondents were also asked to specify the applications considered to be the most appropriate for rehabilitation. We also examined applications available for stroke rehabilitation at Android and Apple stores.
RESULTS
Of the respondents, 92% had never using smartphone technology in rehabilitation with their clients. The greatest barrier to use was that "smartphone technology and appropriate applications were not available for rehabilitation settings" (71.4%). Areas identified as most appropriate for smartphone use in therapy included provision of information (82.4%) and cognitive (72.5%) and language training (68.1%). We found only a few applications in android and Apple application stores. Of the respondents, 89% intended to use smartphone applications in rehabilitation in the future.
CONCLUSION
Smartphone applications developed for stroke rehabilitation are promising. Further research and the development of new therapeutic applications for use in rehabilitation and across health care are needed.

Keyword

application; mobile devices; rehabilitation; smartphone; stroke

MeSH Terms

Surveys and Questionnaires
Delivery of Health Care
Humans
Korea
Language Therapy
Physical Therapists
Stroke
Smartphone

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Types of applications considered most appropriate in the field of stroke rehabilitation. Areas identified as most appropriate (measured as a score of 4 or more on the 5-point NRS) for smartphone use in therapy included providing information (82.4%) followed by cognitive training (72.5%) and language training (68.1%). Respondents were not confident in using it in the fields of ADL re-training (45.1%) and motor training (45.1%). NRS: Numeric rating scale (5: Extremely, 4: Very, 3: Moderately, 2: Slightly, 1: Not at all).

• 

  Fig. 2 Applications currently available in the field of stroke rehabilitation in Korea.

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