Background: Virtual Reality (VR) technology may help to provide a way for stroke survivors to exercise in their own time at home, with remote clinical support. Before investigators introduce this technology there is a need to test that it will work alongside current health services for stroke survivors. Aims: To find out if using the MAGIC-GLASS solution alongside current healthcare care is usable and acceptable to stroke survivors and helps to increase rehabilitation time. Design: Measures before and after stroke survivors use the MAGIC-GLASS solution. Setting: Stroke survivors will use the MAGIC-GLASS solution in their own home. Population: adults (≥18 years) who have had a stroke at least two weeks before they enter into the study. Interventions: Our VR technology is called MAGIC-GLASS, and in order to use the solution the user puts on a headset which is connected to a computer. Participants can then see a VR environment in which they will be able to see virtual hands that respond to the movements of their own hands. It will also be possible to see a mirror image of their hands moving. The system will record how much they use the system and improvement in their movement. Regular contact will be made with a clinician who will be able to use the system to see (from their clinic) how the stroke survivor is doing and talk to them. Outcomes: The investigators want to find out how the stroke survivors' movement changes over time and what they think of using the system. Investigators will also ask clinical staff what they thought of using the system as part of healthcare provision to stroke survivors. Finally investigators want to find out how much it will cost to use the system.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
111
MAGIC-GLASS is a VR-based home system for stroke rehabilitation, developed by Ulster University (UK) in collaboration with Tech4Care srl (Italy) and miThings AB (Sweden) in the context of the EU-funded Project Magic (grant agreement No 687228). It includes a number of mini-games grounded on rehabilitation paradigms such as mirror therapy \[29\] and can adapt to the capability of a person. In addition, the games will include an automatic coaching system for giving feedback both on rehabilitation results (e.g. achievement of exercise goals) and performance (during the exercise itself, the system will give real time advice on the execution of the exercise).
Neuro-rehabilitation Department of the University Hospital of Ancona.
Ancona, Italy
Western Health and Social Care Trust
Londonderry, United Kingdom
Southern Health and Social Care Trust
Lurgan, United Kingdom
the usability of the intervention;
Combination of interviews with users, carer questionnaire, focus groups with clinicians will be used to assess usability using qualitative analysis
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 6 months
the usability of the intervention
System usability score questionnaire
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 6 months
the acceptability of the intervention
Combination of interviews with users, carer questionnaire, focus groups with clinicians will be used to assess acceptability by analysing qualitatively
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 6 months
the process requirements for the new care pathway;
Combination of interviews with users, carer questionnaire, focus groups with clinicians and will be analysed qualitatively
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 6 months
the resource requirements for the new care pathway;
Combination of interviews with users, carer questionnaire, focus groups with clinician and will be analysed qualitatively
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 6 months
the intensity in Rehabilitation Therapy
measured in clinical dashboard
Time frame: Change from baseline to end of intervention (6 months)
the duration in Rehabilitation Therapy
measured in clinical dashboard
Time frame: Change from baseline to end of intervention (6 months)
Functional independence in the activities of daily living with respect to the Modified Rankin Scale
Scale of 0-6 with a higher number representing worse disability
Time frame: Change from baseline to end of intervention (6 months)
Functional independence in the activities of daily living with respect to the Barthel Index
Scale of 0-100 where a higher number indicates more independence
Time frame: Change from baseline to end of intervention (6 months)
physical activity as measured by Range of Motion
measured by sensors inbuilt in the computer system. A scale of 0-360 degrees with a higher score representing more range of motion
Time frame: Change from baseline to end of intervention (6 months)
Cognitive function measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment
Score of 0-30 with a higher score indicating more cognitive decline
Time frame: Change from baseline to end of intervention (6 months)
Stroke specific quality of life questionnaire
Score range of 49-245 with a higher score indicating better quality of life
Time frame: Change from baseline to end of intervention (6 months)
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