Survey

Why do patients and clinicians use XR to rehabilitate at home?

Dear respondent, we would once again like to thank you for your time to complete the survey. Below, you can find more information about the research you participated in.

Introduction

Healthcare technology is evolving fast. Thanks to recent advancements in Extended Reality (XR), patients can now rehabilitate without needing to visit a clinic. Technologies such as mobile phones and head-mounted devices allow patients to perform immersive and engaging therapy in the comfort of their own homes. But despite their benefits, these tools are often not yet integrated in daily care.

To better understand why patients and clinicians do (not) use telerehabilitation tools, we have launched a survey targeting both groups.

Why this survey matters

Most existing research investigated whether at-home rehabilitation using XR is effective under controlled conditions. While evidence shows it can improve clinical outcomes, real-world usage depends on much more than efficacy alone. Benefits like fun, time savings and autonomy also play a big role. And these benefits greatly differ between individuals.

For example, a 12-year-old boy may prefer playing immersive games over regular therapy, even if the medical benefits are modest. Meanwhile, a 90-year-old woman may value that she can perform her exercises without traveling two hours to a clinic. Clinicians, too, may appreciate XR tools for their ability to remotely monitor progress, offer more varied treatments and personalize rehabilitation intensity.

By identifying which groups value which benefits, we can better understand why some tools succeed while others fail.

Research specifications

The surveys are currently being distributed via channels like social media, care panels and newsletters. Once completed, the full report will be made available on this webpage.

Further research

If you would like to read more about this research topic, we recommend you to read the works below:

-       https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1934148218303812

-       https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/10554181241290963

-       https://www.jmir.org/2021/7/e26344/

This survey explores why patients and clinicians choose to use—or avoid—Extended Reality (XR) technologies for at-home rehabilitation. XR tools, such as mobile apps and head-mounted devices, enable patients to complete immersive therapy sessions from home, reducing the need for clinic visits. Although these technologies show strong potential, they are not yet widely adopted in daily healthcare practice.

The research goes beyond measuring clinical effectiveness. It focuses on understanding the personal and practical benefits that influence real-world use, such as enjoyment, convenience, time savings, autonomy, and remote monitoring. These motivations can differ greatly between individuals. For example, younger patients may value engaging and game-like experiences, while older patients may appreciate avoiding long travel times. Clinicians may benefit from improved monitoring, more treatment variety, and personalized rehabilitation programs.

By identifying which benefits matter most to different groups, the study aims to better understand why some XR rehabilitation tools are successfully adopted while others are not.