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Background: Stationary bikes are used in numerous rehabilitation settings, with most offering limited functionalities and types of training. Smart technologies, such as artificial intelligence and robotics, bring new possibilities to achieve rehabilitation goals. However, it is important that these technologies meet the needs of users in order to improve their adoption in current practice., Objective: This study aimed to collect professionals' perspectives on the use of smart stationary bikes in rehabilitation., Methods: Twelve health professionals (age: mean 43.4, SD 10.1 years) completed an online questionnaire and participated in a semistructured interview regarding their needs and expectations before and after a 30-minute session with a smart bike prototype., Results: A content analysis was performed with inductive coding. Seven main themes emerged: (1) bike functionalities (cycling assistance, asymmetric resistance, and forward and backward cycling), (2) interface between bike and users (simple, user-friendly, personalized, with written reminders during training), (3) feedback to users (user and performance data), (4) training programs (preprogrammed and personalized, and algorithmic programs), (5) user engagement (telerehabilitation, group sessions, music, and automatic suggestion of training), (6) the bike as a physical device (dimensions, comfort, setup, screen, etc), and (7) business model (various pricing strategies, training for professionals, and after-sales service)., Conclusions: This study provides an interpretive understanding of professionals' perspectives regarding smart stationary bikes and is the first to identify the expectations of health professionals regarding the development of future bikes in rehabilitation., (© Julie Soulard, Dahlia Kairy, Roua Walha, Cyril Duclos, Sylvie Nadeau, Claudine Auger. Originally published in JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology (https://rehab.jmir.org).)

Background/Objective : Over the past two decades, the utilization of virtual care in rehabilitation has witnessed a significant surge; this is owing to the widespread availability of technological tools and the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, discussions surrounding the relevance and benefits of telerehabilitation have gained prominence among practitioners, who continually seek to enhance patient care while maintaining high standards of quality. Associated with these discussions are concerns over being able to provide care in an ethical way, as well as addressing equity issues that might be hindered or improved via telerehabilitation. To address the ethical and equity concerns around telerehabilitation, a series of five parallel rapid reviews of the scientific literature were conducted, focusing on different rehabilitation fields: physiotherapy and occupational therapy (1); speech therapy and audiology (2); psychology and neuropsychology (3); and in two age groups: older adults (4); and pediatrics and young adults (5). The objective of this series of rapid reviews is to evaluate the evidence presented regarding telerehabilitation; identifying and recommending best practices especially in the realm of ethics and equity. Methods: Medline; CINAHL; and EMBASE were searched between 2010 and 2023 for English or French-language reviews (2010-2020) and individual studies (2020-2023) pertaining to telerehabilitation and these fields of interest. Data were extracted following a standardized form focusing on: outcomes; findings; quality assessment/biases; limitations; and discussion of ethical and equity concerns. Results: The results are presented according to the most relevant themes, which include: findings; strengths; limitations; and ethical/equity considerations. Conclusions: This research presents a methodology rarely published before, on how to conduct multiple parallel rapid reviews on the theme of telerehabilitation, based on different rehabilitation fields and age groups. This research will shape future guidelines and standards in applying ethical and equity standards in telerehabilitation.

Background: Access to care is a major challenge for patients with musculoskeletal disorders (MSKDs). Telemedicine is one of the solutions to improve access to care. However, initial remote diagnosis of MSKDs involves some challenges, such as the impossibility of touching the patient during the physical examination, which makes it more complex to obtain a valid diagnosis. No meta-analysis has been performed to date to synthesize evidence regarding the initial assessment including a physical evaluation using telemedicine to diagnose patients with MSKDs., Objective: This study aims to appraise the evidence on diagnostic and treatment plan concordance between remote assessment using synchronous or asynchronous forms of telemedicine and usual in-person assessment for the initial evaluation of various MSKDs., Methods: An electronic search was conducted up to August 2023 using terms related to telemedicine and assessment of MSKDs. Methodological quality of studies was assessed with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool. Random-effect model meta-analyses were performed. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations framework was used to synthesize the quality and certainty of the evidence., Results: A total of 23 concordance studies were eligible and included adult participants (N=1493) with various MSKDs. On the basis of high certainty, pooled κ and prevalence-adjusted and bias-adjusted κ for the diagnostic concordance between remote and in-person assessments of MSKDs were 0.80 (95% CI 0.72-0.89; 7 studies, 353 patients) and 0.83 (95% CI 0.76-0.89; 6 studies, 306 patients). On the basis of moderate certainty, pooled Gwet AC1 for treatment plan concordance between remote and in-person assessments of MSKDs was 0.90 (95% CI 0.80-0.99; 2 studies, 142 patients)., Conclusions: The diagnostic concordance for MSKDs is good to very good. Treatment plan concordance is probably good to excellent. Studies evaluating the accuracy to detect red and yellow flags as well as the potential increase in associated health care resources use, such as imaging tests, are needed., (©Raphaël Vincent, Maxime Charron, Simon Lafrance, Audrey-Anne Cormier, Dahlia Kairy, François Desmeules. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 23.09.2024.)

Background: Telerehabilitation (TR) has emerged as a feasible and promising approach for delivering rehabilitation services remotely, utilizing technology to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and patients. As new modalities of virtual care and health technologies continue to emerge, it is crucial to stay informed about the growing landscape of virtual care to ensure that telehealth service delivery is ethical and equitable, and improves the quality of services and patient outcomes., Objective: The primary objective of this article is to present the protocol of a rapid review to examine the equity-related aspects surrounding the implementation of TR. This includes a comprehensive analysis of the ethical dimensions and fairness concerns linked to this practice., Methods: A rapid review protocol was developed in accordance with Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Guidance. Medline and EMBASE databases were searched between January 2010 and March 2023. Study selection and data extraction will be conducted in two phases (Phase I) by two independent reviewers and subsequently (Phase II) by a single reviewer. Our study will utilize the PROGRESS-Plus and Equitable virtual rehabilitation in the metaverse era framework to identify dimensions where potential inequities may exist within TR interventions., Results: This rapid review is anticipated to enhance our knowledge of TR in the fields of physiotherapy and occupational therapy, with a specific focus on its influence on ethical and equitable practices and providing a foundation for informed decision-making and improved patient care., Conclusion: This rapid review will contribute to the advancement of our understanding of TR within physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Through synthesizing existing evidence, this study not only addresses current gaps in knowledge but also offers valuable insights for future research and clinical practice in TR services., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Background: Therapeutic education and patient self-management are crucial in diabetes prevention and treatment. Improving diabetes self-management requires multidisciplinary team intervention, nutrition education that facilitates self-management, informed decision-making, and the organization and delivery of appropriate health care services. The emergence of telehealth services has provided the public with various tools for educating themselves and for evaluating, monitoring, and improving their health and nutrition-related behaviors. Combining health technologies with clinical expertise, social support, and health professional involvement could help persons living with diabetes improve their disease self-management skills and prevent its long-term consequences., Objective: This scoping review's primary objective was to identify the key digital tool features of complex telehealth interventions used for type 2 diabetes or prediabetes self-management and monitoring with health professional involvement that help improve health outcomes. A secondary objective was to identify how these key features are developed and combined., Methods: A 5-step scoping review methodology was used to map relevant literature published between January 1, 2010 and March 31, 2022. Electronic searches were performed in the MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Embase databases. The searches were limited to scientific publications in English and French that either described the conceptual development of a complex telehealth intervention that combined self-management and monitoring with health professional involvement or evaluated its effects on the therapeutic management of patients with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. Three reviewers independently identified the articles and extracted the data., Results: The results of 42 studies on complex telehealth interventions combining diabetes self-management and monitoring with the involvement of at least 1 health professional were synthesized. The health professionals participating in these studies were physicians, dietitians, nurses, and psychologists. The digital tools involved were smartphone apps or web-based interfaces that could be used with medical devices. We classified the features of these technologies into eight categories, depending on the intervention objective: (1) monitoring of glycemia levels, (2) physical activity monitoring, (3) medication monitoring, (4) diet monitoring, (5) therapeutic education, (6) health professional support, (7) other health data monitoring, and (8) health care management. The patient-logged data revealed behavior patterns that should be modified to improve health outcomes. These technologies, used with health professional involvement, patient self-management, and therapeutic education, translate into better control of glycemia levels and the adoption of healthier lifestyles. Likewise, they seem to improve monitoring by health professionals and foster multidisciplinary collaboration through data sharing and the development of more concise automatically generated reports., Conclusions: This scoping review synthesizes multiple studies that describe the development and evaluation of complex telehealth interventions used in combination with health professional support. It suggests that combining different digital tools that incorporate diabetes self-management and monitoring features with a health professional's advice and interaction results in more effective interventions and outcomes., (©Choumous Mannoubi, Dahlia Kairy, Karla Vanessa Menezes, Sophie Desroches, Geraldine Layani, Brigitte Vachon. Originally published in JMIR Medical Informatics (https://medinform.jmir.org), 13.03.2024.)

Introduction: Telerehabilitation (TR) is a promising method for facilitating the delivery and access to post-stroke rehabilitation services., Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the acceptability of TR and factors influencing its adoption by individuals with stroke and caregivers., Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was used. Six individuals with stroke and three caregivers participated in individual online interviews. An abductive thematic analysis was employed to analyze the qualitative data, using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT-2) model., Results: Participants reported positive experiences with TR, resulting in improvements in functional abilities, such as manual dexterity, balance, and positive interactions with therapists. They found the technology easy to learn and use, facilitating engagement in TR. Participants' prior experiences with technology, along with support from caregivers and therapists, facilitated acceptance and the use of TR. The COVID-19 pandemic also motivated participants to accept TR. However, technical issues, unstable internet connections, and lack of feedback were barriers to the use of TR., Conclusion: Despite existing obstacles, TR can be used to provide rehabilitation services for individuals with stroke. Addressing these barriers is necessary to promote the widespread and effective use of TR in the context of stroke recovery.

Background: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into health sciences students' education holds significant importance. The rapid advancement of AI has opened new horizons in scientific writing and has the potential to reshape human-technology interactions. AI in education may impact critical thinking, leading to unintended consequences that need to be addressed. Understanding the implications of AI adoption in education is essential for ensuring its responsible and effective use, empowering health sciences students to navigate AI-driven technologies' evolving field with essential knowledge and skills., Objective: This study aims to provide details on the study protocol and the methods used to investigate the usability and efficacy of ChatGPT, a large language model. The primary focus is on assessing its role as a supplementary learning tool for improving learning processes and outcomes among undergraduate health sciences students, with a specific emphasis on chronic diseases., Methods: This single-blinded, crossover, randomized, controlled trial is part of a broader mixed methods study, and the primary emphasis of this paper is on the quantitative component of the overall research. A total of 50 students will be recruited for this study. The alternative hypothesis posits that there will be a significant difference in learning outcomes and technology usability between students using ChatGPT (group A) and those using standard web-based tools (group B) to access resources and complete assignments. Participants will be allocated to sequence AB or BA in a 1:1 ratio using computer-generated randomization. Both arms include students' participation in a writing assignment intervention, with a washout period of 21 days between interventions. The primary outcome is the measure of the technology usability and effectiveness of ChatGPT, whereas the secondary outcome is the measure of students' perceptions and experiences with ChatGPT as a learning tool. Outcome data will be collected up to 24 hours after the interventions., Results: This study aims to understand the potential benefits and challenges of incorporating AI as an educational tool, particularly in the context of student learning. The findings are expected to identify critical areas that need attention and help educators develop a deeper understanding of AI's impact on the educational field. By exploring the differences in the usability and efficacy between ChatGPT and conventional web-based tools, this study seeks to inform educators and students on the responsible integration of AI into academic settings, with a specific focus on health sciences education., Conclusions: By exploring the usability and efficacy of ChatGPT compared with conventional web-based tools, this study seeks to inform educators and students about the responsible integration of AI into academic settings., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrails.gov NCT05963802; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05963802., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): PRR1-10.2196/51873., (©Mirella Veras, Joseph-Omer Dyer, Morgan Rooney, Paulo Goberlânio Barros Silva, Derek Rutherford, Dahlia Kairy. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 24.11.2023.)

Introduction: Metaverse technology is spurring a transformation in healthcare and has the potential to cause a disruptive shift in rehabilitation interventions. The technology will surely be a promising field offering new resources to improve clinical outcomes, compliance, sustainability, and patients' interest in rehabilitation. Despite the growing interest in technologies for rehabilitation, various barriers to using digital services may continue to perpetuate a digital divide. This article proposes a framework with five domains and elements to consider when designing and implementing Metaverse-based rehabilitation services to reduce potential inequalities and provide best patient care., Methods: The framework was developed in two phases and was informed by previous frameworks in digital health, the Metaverse, and health equity. The main elements were extracted and synthesized via consultation with an interdisciplinary team, including a knowledge user., Results: The proposed framework discusses equity issues relevant to assessing progress in moving toward and implementing the Metaverse in rehabilitation services. The five domains of the framework were identified as equity, health services integration, interoperability, global governance, and humanization., Discussion: This article is a call for all rehabilitation professionals, along with other important stakeholders, to engage in developing an equitable, decentralized, and sustainable Metaverse service and not just be a spectator as it develops. Challenges and opportunities and their implications for future directions are highlighted., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2023 Veras, Labbé, Furlano, Zakus, Rutherford, Pendergast and Kairy.)

Background: A growing number of stroke survivors are left with little to no rehabilitation services upon discharge from stroke rehabilitation, although arm deficits may persist or develop from disuse once rehabilitation services have ceased. Virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation, combined with new technologies such as telerehabilitation, including serious games using VR environments that encourage users to practice functional movements from home with minimal supervision, may have an important role to play in optimizing and maintaining upper extremity (UE) function., Objective: The primary objective of this study is to determine the extent to which a 1-month intervention using a VR-based serious game is effective in improving UE function compared with an evidence-based home exercise program. A secondary objective is to assess the feasibility of implementing the intervention for chronic stroke rehabilitation in participants' homes., Methods: A total of 51 chronic stroke participants were randomized to treatment (n=26, 51%; Jintronix system) or standard care (n=25, 49%; standardized Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program kit home program) groups. The participants were evaluated at baseline (before), immediately after the intervention (after), and at follow-up (4 weeks). The primary outcome measure was the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for UE (FMA-UE). Secondary outcome measures included the Stroke Impact Scale and an abridged version of the Motor Activity Log-14. Self-reported number of sessions was logged for the standard care group., Results: No statistically significant differences between groups were found across measures. Overall time effects were found for the FMA-UE (P=.045), specifically between preintervention and postintervention time points for both groups (P=.03). A total of 9 participants in the treatment group reached or surpassed the minimal clinically important difference in scores for the FMA-UE, with 7 (78%) of them having baseline low or moderate arm function, compared with 3 (33%) participants in the standard care group. Furthermore, 56% (9/16) of the participants in the treatment group who actively engaged with the system reached the minimal clinically important difference for the FMA-UE, compared with none for the 0% (0/10) less-active participants., Conclusions: These findings suggest that UE training for chronic stroke survivors using virtual rehabilitation in their home may be as effective as a gold standard home exercise program and that those who used the system the most achieved the greatest improvement in UE function, indicating its relevance to being included as part of ongoing rehabilitation services., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02491203; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02491203., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): RR2-10.1016/j.cct.2015.12.006., (©Alejandro Hernandez, Liudmila Bubyr, Philippe S Archambault, Johanne Higgins, Mindy F Levin, Dahlia Kairy. Originally published in JMIR Serious Games (https://games.jmir.org), 27.09.2022.)

Background: In Canada, stroke survivors have difficulty accessing community-based rehabilitation services because of a lack of resources. VirTele, a personalized remote rehabilitation program combining virtual reality exergames and telerehabilitation, was developed to provide stroke survivors an opportunity to pursue rehabilitation of their chronic upper extremity (UE) deficits at home while receiving ongoing follow-up from a clinician., Objective: We aimed to identify the behavioral and motivational techniques used by clinicians during the VirTele intervention, explore the indicators of empowerment among stroke survivors, and investigate the determinants of VirTele use among stroke survivors and clinicians., Methods: This multiple case study involved 3 stroke survivors with chronic UE deficits and their respective clinicians (physiotherapists) who participated in the VirTele intervention, a 2-month remote rehabilitation intervention that uses nonimmersive virtual reality exergames and telerehabilitation aimed at improving UE deficits in stroke survivors. Study participants had autonomous access to Jintronix exergames and were asked to use them for 30 minutes, 5 times a week. The VirTele intervention included 1-hour videoconference sessions with a clinician 1 to 3 times a week, during which the clinician engaged in motivational interviewing, supervised the stroke survivors' use of the exergames, and monitored their use of the affected UE through activities of daily living. Semidirected interviews were conducted with the clinicians and stroke survivors 4 to 5 weeks after the end of the VirTele intervention. All interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. An abductive thematic analysis was conducted to generate new ideas through a dynamic interaction between data and theory., Results: Three stroke survivors (n=2, 67%, women and n=1, 33%, man), with a mean age of 58.8 (SD 19.4) years, and 2 physiotherapists participated in the study. Five major determinants of VirTele use emerged from the qualitative analyses, namely technology performance (usefulness and perception of exergames), effort (ease of use), family support (encouragement), facilitators (considerations of the stroke survivors' safety as well as trust and understanding of instructions), and challenges (miscommunication and exergame limits). During the VirTele intervention, both clinicians used motivational and behavioral techniques to support autonomy, competence, and connectivity. All these attributes were reflected as empowerment indicators in the stroke survivors. Lessons learned from using telerehabilitation combined with exergames are provided, which will be relevant to other researchers and contexts., Conclusions: This multiple case study provides a first glimpse into the impact that motivational interviewing can have on adherence to exergames and changes in behavior in the use of the affected UE in stroke survivors. Lessons learned regarding the supportive role caregivers play and the new responsibilities clinicians have when using the VirTele intervention may inform the use of exergames via telerehabilitation. These lessons will also serve as a model to guide the implementation of similar interventions., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): RR2-10.2196/14629., (©Dorra Rakia Allegue, Shane Norman Sweet, Johanne Higgins, Philippe S Archambault, Francois Michaud, William C Miller, Michel Tousignant, Dahlia Kairy. Originally published in JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology (https://rehab.jmir.org), 15.09.2022.)

Background: Intelligent powered wheelchairs remain a popular research topic that can improve users' quality of life. Although our multidisciplinary research team has put a lot of effort into adding features based on end-users needs and impairments since 2006, there are still open issues regarding the usability and functionalities of an intelligent powered wheelchair (IPW)., Methods: For this reason, this research presents an experience with our IPW followed by a study in two parts: a quantitative one based on the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire and a qualitative one through open questions regarding IPW functionalities with novice users, e.g., IPW non-users. These users never used an IPW before, but are users and aware of the impacts of the technology used in our IPW, being undergraduate to postdoctoral students and staff (faculty, lecturers, research engineers) at the Faculty of Engineering of Université de Sherbrooke., Results: The qualitative analyses identified different behaviours among the novice users. The quantitative analysis via SUS questionnaire done with novice users reports an "okay" rating (equivalent with a C grade or 68 SUS Score) for our IPW's usability. Moreover, advantages and disadvantages opinions were gathered on the IPW as well as comments which can be used to improve the system., Conclusions: The results reported in these studies show that the system, e.g., IPW, was judged to be sufficiently usable and robust by novice users, with and without experience with the software used in developing the IPW.

Background: The underuse or overuse of knowledge products leads to waste in health care, and primary care is no exception., Objective: This study aimed to characterize which knowledge products are frequently implemented, the implementation strategies used in primary care, and the implementation outcomes that are measured., Methods: We performed a systematic review (SR) of SRs using the Cochrane systematic approach to include eligible SRs. The inclusion criteria were any primary care contexts, health care professionals and patients, any Effective Practice and Organization of Care implementation strategies of specified knowledge products, any comparators, and any implementation outcomes based on the Proctor framework. We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Ovid PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception to October 2019 without any restrictions. We searched the references of the included SRs. Pairs of reviewers independently performed selection, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment by using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2. Data extraction was informed by the Effective Practice and Organization of Care taxonomy for implementation strategies and the Proctor framework for implementation outcomes. We performed a descriptive analysis and summarized the results by using a narrative synthesis., Results: Of the 11,101 records identified, 81 (0.73%) SRs were included. Of these 81, a total of 47 (58%) SRs involved health care professionals alone. Moreover, 15 SRs had a high or moderate methodological quality. Most of them addressed 1 type of knowledge product (56/81, 69%), common clinical practice guidelines (26/56, 46%) or management, and behavioral or pharmacological health interventions (24/56, 43%). Mixed strategies were used for implementation (67/81, 83%), predominantly education-based (meetings in 60/81, 74%; materials distribution in 59/81, 73%; and academic detailing in 45/81, 56%), reminder (53/81, 36%), and audit and feedback (40/81, 49%) strategies. Education meetings (P=.13) and academic detailing (P=.11) seemed to be used more when the population was composed of health care professionals alone. Improvements in the adoption of knowledge products were the most commonly measured outcome (72/81, 89%). The evidence level was reported in 12% (10/81) of SRs on 62 outcomes (including 48 improvements in adoption), of which 16 (26%) outcomes were of moderate or high level., Conclusions: Clinical practice guidelines and management and behavioral or pharmacological health interventions are the most commonly implemented knowledge products and are implemented through the mixed use of educational, reminder, and audit and feedback strategies. There is a need for a strong methodology for the SR of randomized controlled trials to explore their effectiveness and the entire cascade of implementation outcomes., (©Claude Bernard Uwizeye, Hervé Tchala Vignon Zomahoun, André Bussières, Aliki Thomas, Dahlia Kairy, José Massougbodji, Nathalie Rheault, Sébastien Tchoubi, Leonel Philibert, Serigne Abib Gaye, Lobna Khadraoui, Ali Ben Charif, Ella Diendéré, Léa Langlois, Michèle Dugas, France Légaré. Originally published in the Interactive Journal of Medical Research (https://www.i-jmr.org/), 11.07.2022.)

Background: Occupational therapists who work in hospitals need to assess patients' home environment in preparation for hospital discharge in order to provide recommendations (eg, technical aids) to support their independence and safety. Home visits increase performance in everyday activities and decrease the risk of falls; however, in some countries, home visits are rarely made prior to hospital discharge due to the cost and time involved. In most cases, occupational therapists rely on an interview with the patient or a caregiver to assess the home. The use of videoconferencing to assess patients' home environments could be an innovative solution to allow better and more appropriate recommendations., Objective: The aim of this study was (1) to explore the added value of using mobile videoconferencing compared with standard procedure only and (2) to document the clinical feasibility of using mobile videoconferencing to assess patients' home environments., Methods: Occupational therapists assessed home environments using, first, the standard procedure (interview), and then, videoconferencing (with the help of a family caregiver located in patients' homes, using an electronic tablet). We used a concurrent mixed methods design. The occupational therapist's responsiveness to telehealth, time spent on assessment, patient's occupational performance and satisfaction, and major events influencing the variables were collected as quantitative data. The perceptions of occupational therapists and family caregivers regarding the added value of using this method and the nature of changes made to recommendations as a result of the videoconference (if any) were collected as qualitative data, using questionnaires and semistructured interviews., Results: Eight triads (6 occupational therapists, 8 patients, and 8 caregivers) participated. The use of mobile videoconferencing generally led occupational therapists to modify the initial intervention plan (produced after the standard interview). Occupational therapists and caregivers perceived benefits in using mobile videoconferencing (eg, the ability to provide real-time comments or feedback), and they also perceived disadvantages (eg, videoconferencing requires additional time and greater availability of caregivers). Some occupational therapists believed that mobile videoconferencing added value to assessments, while others did not., Conclusions: The use of mobile videoconferencing in the context of hospital discharge planning has raised questions of clinical feasibility. Although mobile videoconferencing provides multiple benefits to hospital discharge, including more appropriate occupational therapist recommendations, time constraints made it more difficult to perceive the added value. However, with smartphone use, interdisciplinary team involvement, and patient participation in the videoconference visit, mobile videoconferencing can become an asset to hospital discharge planning., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): RR2-10.2196/11674., (©Karine Latulippe, Dominique Giroux, Manon Guay, Dahlia Kairy, Claude Vincent, Katia Boivin, Ernesto Morales, Natasa Obradovic, Véronique Provencher. Originally published in JMIR Aging (https://aging.jmir.org), 05.07.2022.)

Background: Exergames are increasingly being used among survivors of stroke with chronic upper extremity (UE) sequelae to continue exercising at home after discharge and maintain activity levels. The use of virtual reality exergames combined with a telerehabilitation app (VirTele) may be an interesting alternative to rehabilitate the UE sequelae in survivors of chronic stroke while allowing for ongoing monitoring with a clinician., Objective: This study aimed to determine the feasibility of using VirTele in survivors of chronic stroke at home and explore the impact of VirTele on UE motor function, quantity and quality of use, quality of life, and motivation in survivors of chronic stroke compared with conventional therapy., Methods: This study was a 2-arm feasibility clinical trial. Eligible participants were randomly allocated to an experimental group (receiving VirTele for 8 weeks) or a control group (receiving conventional therapy for 8 weeks). Feasibility was measured from the exergame and intervention logs completed by the clinician. Outcome measurements included the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-UE, Motor Activity Log-30, Stroke Impact Scale-16, and Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire-15, which were administered to both groups at four time points: time point 1 (T1; before starting the intervention), time point 2 (after the intervention), time point 3 (1 month after the intervention), and time point 4 (T4; 2 months after the intervention)., Results: A total of 11 survivors of stroke were randomized and allocated to an experimental or a control group. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, participants pursued the allocated treatment for 3 months instead of 8 weeks. VirTele intervention dose was captured in terms of time spent on exergames, frequency of use of exergames, total number of successful repetitions, and frequency of videoconference sessions. Technical issues included the loss of passwords, internet issues, updates of the system, and problems with the avatar. Overall, most survivors of stroke found the technology easy to use and useful, except for 9% (1/11) of participants. For the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-UE and Motor Activity Log-30, both groups exhibited an improvement in >50% of the participants, which was maintained over time (from time point 3 to T4). Regarding Stroke Impact Scale-16 scores, the control group reported improvement in activities of daily life (3/5, 60%), hand function (5/5, 100%), and mobility (2/5, 40%), whereas the experimental group reported varied and inconclusive results (from T1 to T4). For the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire-15, 75% (3/4) of the experimental group demonstrated an increase in the autonomous motivation score (from T1 to time point 2), whereas, in the control group, this improvement was observed in only 9% (1/11) of participants., Conclusions: The VirTele intervention constitutes another therapeutic alternative, in addition to conventional therapy, to deliver an intense personalized rehabilitation program for survivors of chronic stroke with UE sequelae., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): RR2-10.2196/14629., (©Dorra Rakia Allegue, Johanne Higgins, Shane N Sweet, Philippe S Archambault, Francois Michaud, William Miller, Michel Tousignant, Dahlia Kairy. Originally published in JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology (https://rehab.jmir.org), 22.06.2022.)

Background: In Canada, only 11% of stroke survivors have access to outpatient and community-based rehabilitation after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Hence, innovative community-based strategies are needed to provide adequate postrehabilitation services. The VirTele program, which combines virtual reality exergames and a telerehabilitation app, was developed to provide stroke survivors with residual upper extremity deficits, the opportunity to participate in a personalized home rehabilitation program., Objective: This study aims to determine the feasibility of VirTele for remote upper extremity rehabilitation in a chronic stroke survivor; explore the preliminary efficacy of VirTele on upper extremity motor function, the amount and quality of upper extremity use, and impact on quality of life and motivation; and explore the determinants of behavioral intention and use behavior of VirTele along with indicators of empowerment., Methods: A 63-year-old male stroke survivor (3 years) with moderate upper extremity impairment participated in a 2-month VirTele intervention. He was instructed to use exergames (5 games for upper extremity) for 30 minutes, 5 times per week, and conduct videoconference sessions with a clinician at least once per week. Motivational interviewing was incorporated into VirTele to empower the participant to continue exercising and use his upper extremities in everyday activities. Upper extremity motor function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment-upper extremity), amount and quality of upper extremity use (Motor Activity Log-30), and impact on quality of life (Stroke Impact Scale-16) and motivation (Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire-15) were measured before (T1), after (T2) VirTele intervention, and during a 1- (T3) and 2-month (T4) follow-up period. Qualitative data were collected through logs and semistructured interviews. Feasibility data (eg, number and duration of videoconference sessions and adherence) were documented at the end of each week., Results: The participant completed 48 exergame sessions (33 hours) and 8 videoconference sessions. Results suggest that the VirTele intervention and the study protocol could be feasible for stroke survivors. The participant exhibited clinically meaningful improvements at T2 on the Fugl-Meyer and Stroke Impact Scale-16 and maintained these gains at T3 and T4. During the follow-up periods, the amount and quality of upper extremity use showed meaningful changes, suggesting more involvement of the affected upper extremity in daily activities. The participant demonstrated a high level of autonomous motivation, which may explain his adherence. Performance, effort, and social influence have meaningful weights in the behavioral intention of using VirTele. However, the lack of control of technical and organizational infrastructures may influence the long-term use of technology. At the end of the intervention, the participant demonstrated considerable empowerment at both the behavioral and capacity levels., Conclusions: VirTele was shown to be feasible for use in chronic stroke survivors for remote upper extremity rehabilitation. Meaningful determinants of behavioral intention and use behavior of VirTele were identified, and preliminary efficacy results are promising., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): RR2-10.2196/14629., (©Dorra Rakia Allegue, Dahlia Kairy, Johanne Higgins, Philippe S Archambault, Francois Michaud, William C Miller, Shane N Sweet, Michel Tousignant. Originally published in JMIR Serious Games (https://games.jmir.org), 31.08.2021.)

Purpose: Telerehabilitation could prevent sequelae from COVID-19. We aimed to assess the feasibility of telerehabilitation; describe pulmonary and functional profiles of COVID-19 patients; and explore the effect of telerehabilitation on improving pulmonary symptoms and quality of life., Methods: We conducted a pre-experimental, pre-post pilot study. We recruited COVID-19 patients who had returned home following hospitalization. The intervention included eight weeks of supervised physiotherapy sessions. We documented technological issues, success of recruitment strategies, and participants' attendance to supervised sessions. We measured the impact of pulmonary symptoms on quality of life and functional health., Results: We scheduled 64 supervised sessions with seven participants with few technological issues. Initial scores showed that pulmonary symptoms moderately to highly impacted quality of life. At eight weeks, all patients had improved from 10 to 45 points on the EuroQol-Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS) instrument, indicating clinical significance., Conclusion: We developed and administered a telerehabilitation intervention during a global pandemic that targets key symptoms of the relevant disease., (Copyright © 2021 Pamela Tanguay, Nicole Marquis, Isabelle Gaboury, Dahlia Kairy, Matthieu Touchette, Michel Tousignant, Simon Décary.)

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common type of pediatric cancer. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia causes an altered bone mineral homeostasis state, which can contribute to osteopenia, and bone fractures, most commonly vertebral fractures. With the increasing number of childhood cancer survivors, late adverse effects such as musculoskeletal comorbidities are often reported and are further influenced by inactive lifestyle habits. Physical activity has been shown to increase the mechanical workload of the bone, mitigating bone impairment in other cancer-specific populations., Objective: This interventional pilot study aims to investigate the use of telehealth to deliver a home-based exercise intervention for early-on survivors of bone marrow-related hematological malignancies and to assess its impact on survivors' musculoskeletal and functional health., Methods: We aimed to recruit a group of 12 early-on survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, within 6 months to 5 years of treatment, to participate in and complete the proposed telehealth intervention with a parent. The 16-week intervention included 40 potential home-based physical activity interventions supervised by a kinesiologist through a telehealth internet platform, with monthly progression. Patients were recruited to the cohort if they were able to participate in the intervention during the first month (minimum 12 weeks of intervention). Evaluation before and after the intervention protocol highlighted differences in functional capacities and musculoskeletal health of patients using mechanography, peripheral quantitative computed tomography, 6-minute walk test, and grip force test., Results: The recruitment rate for the intervention was low (12/57, 21% of contacted patients). Of 12 patients, 3 were excluded (1=relapse, 1=failure to meet technical requirements, and 1=abandoned). The 9 patients who completed the intervention (6 girls; mean age 10.93, SD 2.83 years; mean BMI 21.58, SD 6.55 kg/m 2 ; mean time since treatment completion 36.67, SD 16.37 months) had a mean adherence of 89% and a completion rate of 75%. In addition, these patients showed functional improvements in lower limb muscle force and power as well as in the 6-minute walk test distance. Participants also showed improved bone health after the intervention on the following parameters: bone mineral content, stress-strain index, total and cortical cross-sectional area at the 14% site (P=.03, P=.01, P=.01, and P=.001, respectively) and 38% site of the tibia (P=.003, P=.04, P=.001, and P=.003, respectively)., Conclusions: High adherence and participation rates suggest that telehealth is a feasible method to deliver exercise interventions to young early-on survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The proposed intervention seems promising in providing benefits to patients' functional performance and bone health, but a large-scale study is needed to confirm this assumption., (©Genevieve Lambert, Nathalie Alos, Pascal Bernier, Caroline Laverdière, Dahlia Kairy, Kenneth Drummond, Noémi Dahan-Oliel, Martin Lemay, Louis-Nicolas Veilleux. Originally published in JMIR Cancer (https://cancer.jmir.org), 16.06.2021.)

Background: Approximately 80% of individuals with chronic stroke present with long lasting upper extremity (UE) impairments. We designed the perSonalized UPper Extremity Rehabilitation (SUPER) intervention, which combines robotics, virtual reality activities, and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). The objectives of our study were to determine the feasibility and the preliminary efficacy of the SUPER intervention in individuals with moderate/severe stroke., Methods: Stroke participants (n = 28) received a 4-week intervention (3 × per week), tailored to their functional level. The functional integrity of the corticospinal tract was assessed using the Predict Recovery Potential algorithm, involving measurements of motor evoked potentials and manual muscle testing. Those with low potential for hand recovery (shoulder group; n = 18) received a robotic-rehabilitation intervention focusing on elbow and shoulder movements only. Those with a good potential for hand recovery (hand group; n = 10) received EMG-triggered NMES, in addition to robot therapy. The primary outcomes were the Fugl-Meyer UE assessment and the ABILHAND assessment. Secondary outcomes included the Motor Activity Log and the Stroke Impact Scale., Results: Eighteen participants (64%), in either the hand or the shoulder group, showed changes in the Fugl-Meyer UE or in the ABILHAND assessment superior to the minimal clinically important difference., Conclusions: This indicates that our personalized approach is feasible and may be beneficial in improving UE function in individuals with moderate to severe impairments due to stroke., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03903770. Registered 4 April 2019. Registered retrospectively.

Background: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer. ALL and its treatment cause altered bone-mineral homeostasis, which can contribute to musculoskeletal late adverse effects (LAEs). With the increasing number of childhood cancer survivors, LAEs are reported often, and are aggravated by inactive lifestyles. A telerehabilitation program is proposed to strengthen the muscle-bone complex and prevent future impairment., Objective: This study aimed to explore and better understand patient and parent experience of a telerehabilitation program after completion of ALL treatment., Methods: ALL survivors ( n = 12), 75% girls, 7.9 to 14.7 years old, within six months to five years of treatment, were recruited to participate in the proposed study, along with a parent. The 16-week group program included 40 potential home-based physical activities, with monthly progression, supervised by a kinesiologist, through an online telerehabilitation platform. Patients could be included in the study if they joined during the first month of intervention of their group (minimum 12 weeks of intervention). A semi-structured post-intervention interview was conducted with the patients and their parent during the final assessment, along with a review of the kinesiologist's clinical notes, to obtain a portrait of the participants' experience with the telerehabilitation program. Overarching themes were identified by one author and confirmed by two senior authors before extracting the various aspects of each theme., Results: Of the 12 patients recruited, three were excluded from the analysis because they did not complete the minimum 12 weeks of intervention (one = relapse, one = failure to meet technical requirements, and one = abandoned due to parent's disinterest). The nine patients who completed the program (six girls; 10.93 ± 2.83 years) had a mean adherence of 89%. The overarching themes identified were the program modalities (group approach with patient-parent paired training, supervised by a kinesiologist), the telerehabilitation system, the participants' perception of the benefits, and recommendations and suggestions from the families. Both patients and parents expressed very high satisfaction with the program and perceived benefits., Conclusion: Participants appreciated the program and reported they would all recommend it to other families in similar situations. The telerehabilitation method of service delivery was perceived by some as decisive in choosing to participate, while the supervision and intra- and inter-family interactions were the motivating factors that were key to program adherence.

Background: Social participation is beneficial for individuals' health. However, people with disabilities that may lead to mobility limitations tend to experience lower levels of social participation. Information and communication technologies such as the OnRoule mobile application (app) can help promote social participation., Objectives: To obtain potential users' perceptions on the usability and content of the OnRoule app for providing information on accessibility, as well as its potential to optimize social participation., Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional user-centered design study. Individuals with physical disabilities ( n = 18) were recruited through community organizations and interviewed using a semi-structured guide. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis., Results: Three main themes were identified: (1) "user-friendliness"; (2) "balance between the amount and relevance of information"; and (3) "potential use of the app"., Discussion and Conclusion: Findings from this study indicated that the app was easy to use, had pertinent information, and enabled a positive experience of finding information. However, several areas of improvement were identified, such as the clarity of specific elements, organization and amount of information, optimization of features, and inclusiveness. Apps such as OnRoule could optimize social participation by facilitating the process of finding resources in the community and building a sense of connectedness between users.

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is an important parameter to monitor during rehabilitation; however, accurate assessment is challenging. Among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), assessing QoL is further challenged due to complex sequelae, such as secondary health conditions and factors related to community integration. A Participation and Quality of Life (PAR-QoL) toolkit was created to aid clinicians and researchers in the selection of QoL outcomes tools specific to SCI. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use and usability of the PAR-QoL toolkit. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey from December 2013 to November 2016. Google Analytics were collected from April 2012 to April 2018. Survey sections addressed "use" (behavioral practices and actual use) and "usability" (perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness). Any person who visited the PAR-QoL website was invited to complete the survey. Summary statistics and percent concordances were calculated to describe results from the survey and Google Analytics. Results: The PAR-QoL website had 188,577 users. The five most visited webpages were outcome tools, with bounce rates ranging from 77% to 90%. Of the 46 survey respondents, 67% were not current users of the PAR-QoL website, and 87% intended to use the resources in the future. Conclusion: Uptake of the PAR-QoL website is currently limited. Usability of the PAR-QoL website may be improved by modifying navigation, removing the "less useful" components, ensuring regular updates of content and resources, and promoting the website., (© 2020 Thomas Land Publishers, Inc.)

Background: While there is a growing body of literature supporting clinical decision-making for rehabilitation professionals, suboptimal use of evidence-based practices in that field persists. A strategic initiative that ensures the relevance of the research and its implementation in the context of rehabilitation could 1) help improve the coordination of knowledge translation (KT) research and 2) enhance the delivery of evidence-based rehabilitation services offered to patients with physical disabilities. This paper describes the process and methods used to develop a KT strategic initiative aimed at building capacity and coordinating KT research in physical rehabilitation and its strategic plan; it also reports the initial applications of the strategic plan implementation., Methods: We used a 3-phase process consisting of an online environmental scan to identify the extent of KT research activities in physical rehabilitation in Quebec, Canada. Data from the environmental scan was used to develop a strategic plan that structures KT research in physical rehabilitation. Seven external KT experts in health science reviewed the strategic plan for consistency and applicability., Results: Sixty-four KT researchers were identified and classified according to the extent of their level of involvement in KT. Ninety-six research projects meeting eligibility criteria were funded by eight of the fourteen agencies and organizations searched. To address the identified gaps, a 5-year strategic plan was developed, containing a mission, a vision, four main goals, nine strategies and forty-two actions., Conclusion: Such initiatives can help guide researchers and relevant key stakeholders, to structure, organize and advance KT research in the field of rehabilitation. The strategies are being implemented progressively to meet the strategic initiative's mission and ultimately enhance users' rehabilitation services.

Background: Previous studies have assessed the effects of perturbation training on balance after stroke. However, the perturbations were either applied while standing or were small in amplitude during gait, which is not representative of the most common fall conditions. The perturbations were also combined with other challenges such as progressive increases in treadmill speed., Objective: To determine the benefit of treadmill training with intense and unpredictable perturbations compared to treadmill walking-only training for dynamic balance and gait post-stroke., Methods: Twenty-one individuals post-stroke with reduced dynamic balance abilities, with or without a history of fall and ability to walk on a treadmill without external support or a walking aid for at least 1 min were allocated to either an unpredictable gait perturbation (Perturb) group or a walking-only (NonPerturb) group through covariate adaptive randomization. Nine training sessions were conducted over 3 weeks. NonPerturb participants only walked on the treadmill but were offered perturbation training after the control intervention. Pre- and post-training evaluations included balance and gait abilities, maximal knee strength, balance confidence and community integration. Six-week phone follow-ups were conducted for balance confidence and community integration. Satisfaction with perturbation training was also assessed., Results: With no baseline differences between groups (p > 0.075), perturbation training yielded large improvements in most variables in the Perturb (p < 0.05, Effect Size: ES > .46) group (n = 10) and the NonPerturb (p ≤ .089, ES > .45) group (n = 7 post-crossing), except for maximal strength (p > .23) in the NonPerturb group. Walking-only training in the NonPerturb group (n = 8, pre-crossing) mostly had no effect (p > .292, ES < .26), except on balance confidence (p = .063, ES = .46). The effects of the gait training were still present on balance confidence and community integration at follow-up. Satisfaction with the training program was high., Conclusion: Intense and unpredictable gait perturbations have the potential to be an efficient component of training to improve balance abilities and community integration in individuals with chronic stroke. Retrospective registration: ClinicalTrials.gov. March 18th, 2020. Identifier: NCT04314830.

Background: Exergames have the potential to provide an accessible, remote approach for poststroke upper extremity (UE) rehabilitation. However, the use of exergames without any follow-up by a health professional could lead to compensatory movements during the exercises, inadequate choice of difficulty level, exercises not being completed, and lack of motivation to pursue exercise programs, thereby decreasing their benefits. Combining telerehabilitation with exergames could allow continuous adjustment of the exercises and monitoring of the participant's completion and adherence. At present, there is limited evidence regarding the feasibility or efficacy of combining telerehabilitation and exergames for stroke rehabilitation., Objective: This study aims to (1) determine the preliminary efficacy of using telerehabilitation combined with exergames on UE motor recovery, function, quality of life, and motivation in participants with chronic stroke, compared with conventional therapy (the graded repetitive arm supplementary program; GRASP); (2) examine the feasibility of using the technology with participants diagnosed with stroke at home; and (3) identify the obstacles and facilitators for its use by participants diagnosed with stroke and stroke therapists and understand the shared decision-making process., Methods: A mixed methods study protocol is proposed, including a randomized, blinded feasibility trial with an embedded multiple case study. The intervention consists of the provision of a remote rehabilitation program, during which participants will use the Jintronix exergame for UE training and the Reacts Application to conduct videoconferenced sessions with the therapists (physical or occupational therapists). We plan to recruit 52 participants diagnosed with stroke, randomly assigned to a control group (n=26; 2-month on-paper home exercise program: the GRASP with no supervision) and an experimental group (n=26; 2-month home program using the technology). The primary outcome is the Fugl-Meyer UE Assessment, a performance-based measure of UE impairment. The secondary outcomes are self-reported questionnaires and include the Motor Activity Log-28 (quality and frequency of use of the UE), Stroke Impact Scale-16 (the quality of life), and Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire (motivation). Feasibility data include process, resources, management, and scientific outcomes. Qualitative data will be collected by interviews with both participants and therapists., Results: At present, data collection was ongoing with one participant who had completed the exergame- telerehabilitation based intervention. We expect to collect preliminary efficacy data of this technology on the functional and motor recovery of the UE, following a stroke; collect feasibility data with users at home (adherence, safety, and technical difficulties); and identify the obstacles and facilitators for the technology use and understand the shared decision-making process., Conclusions: This paper describes the protocol underlying the study of a telerehabilitation-exergame technology to contribute to understanding its feasibility and preliminary efficacy for UE stroke rehabilitation., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03759106; http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT03759106., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/14629., (©Dorra Rakia Allegue, Dahlia Kairy, Johanne Higgins, Philippe Archambault, Francois Michaud, William Miller, Shane Norman Sweet, Michel Tousignant. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (http://www.researchprotocols.org), 21.05.2020.)

Background: The literature on the implementation of knowledge products is extensive. However, this literature is still difficult to interpret for policymakers and other stakeholders when faced with choosing implementation strategies likely to bring about successful change in their health systems. This work has the particularity to examine the scope of this literature, and to clarify the effectiveness of implementation strategies for different knowledge products. Consequently, we aim to (1) determine the strengths and weaknesses of existing literature overviews; (2) produce a detailed portrait of the literature on implementation strategies for various knowledge products; and (3) assess the effectiveness of implementation strategies for each knowledge product identified and classify them., Methods: We will use a three-phase approach consisting of a critical analysis of existing literature overviews, a systematic review of systematic reviews, and a series of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We will follow the Cochrane Methodology for each of the three phases. Our eligibility criteria are defined following a PICOS approach: Population, individuals or stakeholders participating in healthcare delivery, specifically, healthcare providers, caregivers, and end users; Intervention, any type of strategy aiming to implement a knowledge product including, but not limited to, a decision support tool, a clinical practice guideline, a policy brief, or a decision-making tool, a one-pager, or a health intervention; Comparison, any comparator will be considered; Outcomes, phases 1 and 2-any outcome related to implementation strategies including, but not limited to, the measures of adherence/fidelity to the use of knowledge products, their acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, feasibility, adaptability, implementation costs, penetration/reach and sustainability; phase 3-any additional outcome related to patients (psychosocial, health behavioral, and clinical outcomes) or healthcare professionals (behavioral and performance outcomes); Setting, primary healthcare has to be covered. We will search MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library from their inception onwards. For each phase, two reviewers will independently perform the selection of studies, data extraction, and assess their methodological quality. We will analyze extracted data, and perform narrative syntheses, and meta-analyses when possible., Discussion: Our results could inform not only the overviews' methodology but also the development of an online platform for the implementation strategies of knowledge products. This platform could be useful for stakeholders in implementation science., Systematic Review Registration: Protocol registered on Open Science Framework, https://osf.io/eb8w2/.

(1) Background: Increasing the amount of therapy time has been shown to improve motor function in stroke survivors. However, it is often not possible to increase the amount of therapy time provided in the current one-on-one therapy models. Rehabilitation-based virtual reality exergame systems, such as Jintronix, can be offered to stroke survivors as an adjunct to traditional therapy. The goal of this study was to examine the safety and feasibility of providing additional therapy using an exergame system and assess its preliminary clinical efficacy. (2) Methods: Stroke survivors receiving outpatient rehabilitation services participated in this pilot randomized control trial in which the intervention group received 4 weeks of exergaming sessions in addition to traditional therapy sessions. (3) Results: Nine subjects in the intervention and nine subjects in the control group completed the study. The intervention group had at least two extra sessions per week, with an average duration of 44 min per session and no serious adverse events (falls, dizziness, or pain). The efficacy measures showed statistically meaningful improvements in the activities of daily living measures (i.e., MAL-QOM (motor activity log-quality of movement) and both mobility and physical domains of the SIS (stroke impact scale) with mean difference of 1.0%, 5.5%, and 6.7% between the intervention and control group, respectively) at post-intervention. (4) Conclusion: Using virtual reality exergaming technology as an adjunct to traditional therapy is feasible and safe in post-stroke rehabilitation and may be beneficial to upper extremity functional recovery.

The economic burden of West Nile virus (WNV) infection is not known for Canada. We sought to describe the direct and indirect costs of WNV infection in the province of Quebec, Canada, up to 2 years after onset of signs and symptoms. We conducted a retrospective cohort study that included WNV cases reported during 2012 and 2013. For 90 persons infected with WNV, persons with encephalitis accounted for the largest proportion of total cost: a median cost of $21,332 per patient compared with $8,124 for West Nile meningitis (p = 0.0004) and $192 for West Nile fever (p<0.0001). When results were extrapolated to all reported WNV patients, the estimated total cost for 124 symptomatic cases was ≈$1.7 million for 2012 and that for 31 symptomatic cases was ≈$430,000 for 2013. Our study provides information for the government to make informed decisions regarding public health policies and infectious diseases prevention and control programs.

Background: Aphasia is a communication disorder affecting participation. Although there are evidence-based practice recommendations about participation and aphasia rehabilitation, it may be challenging for speech-language pathologists to ensure that rehabilitation activities have an impact on the person's participation, in part due to time limitations. Participation remains limited after rehabilitation for persons who have aphasia. Communities of practice (CoPs) are a collaborative knowledge transfer strategy that can be used for evidence-based practice implementation. The aim of this study was to describe the components and evaluate a CoP for speech-language pathologists about participation and aphasia rehabilitation., Methods: Logic analysis was used to determine the adequacy between resources, implemented activities, outputs and short-term outcomes of the CoP. Qualitative and quantitative descriptive data were collected through observation and participants' logbooks. Outputs and outcomes of the CoP were revealed through thematic analysis and interpretation of descriptive statistics., Results: Resources including CoP design and educational aims, human and material resources were combined to create various web-based, online and offline activities. Participants invested more time per week than expected in the CoP, shared and created clinical tools and appreciated the array of suggested activities. Participant engagement allowed them to reflect, interact and collaborate with each other. All 13 participants reported they acquired knowledge about clinical tools and 12 mentioned they reflected on their practice. While the CoP was ongoing, six participants noticed evidence-practice gaps, seven prepared to change their practice, and three changed their practice towards including more participation-based considerations., Conclusions: This study showed that speech-language pathologists can include more participation-based approaches in aphasia rehabilitation as a result of participating in a time-bound, web-based CoP.

Background: Powered wheelchair (PW) driving is a complex activity and requires the acquisition of several skills. Given the risks involved with PW use, safe and effective training methods are needed. Virtual reality training allows users to practice difficult tasks in a safe environment. An additional benefit is that augmented feedback can be provided to optimize learning. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether providing augmented feedback during powered wheelchair simulator training results in superior performance, and whether skills learned in a virtual environment transfer to real PW driving., Methods: Forty healthy young adults were randomly allocated to two groups: one received augmented feedback during simulator training while the control group received no augmented feedback. PW driving performance was assessed at baseline in both the real and virtual environment (RE and VE), after training in VE and two days later in VE and RE (retention and transfer tests)., Results: Both groups showed significantly better task completion time and number of collisions in the VE after training and these results were maintained two days later. The transfer test indicated better performance in the RE compared to baseline for both groups. Because time and collisions interact, a post-hoc 2D Kolmogonov-Smirnov test was used to investigate the differences in the speed-accuracy distributions for each group; a significant difference was found for the group receiving augmented feedback, before and after training, whereas the difference was not significant for the control group. There were no differences at the retention test, suggesting that augmented feedback was most effective during and immediately after training., Conclusions: PW simulator training is effective in improving task completion time and number of collisions. A small effect of augmented feedback was seen when looking at differences in the speed-accuracy distributions, highlighting the importance of accounting for the speed-accuracy tradeoff for PW driving.

Background: Occupational therapists working in hospitals are usually involved in discharge planning to assess patients' safety and autonomy upon returning home. However, their assessment is usually done at the hospital due to organizational and financial constraints. The lack of visual data about the patients' home may thus reduce the appropriateness and applicability of the support recommended upon discharge. Although various technological tools such as mobile devices (mobile health) are promising methods for home-based distance assessment, their application in hospital settings may raise several feasibility issues. To our knowledge, their usefulness and added value compared to standard procedure have not been addressed yet in previous studies. Moreover, several feasibility issues need to be explored., Objective: This paper aims to (1) document the clinical feasibility of using an electronic tablet to assess the patient's home environment by mobile videoconferencing and (2) explore the added value of using mobile videoconferencing, compared to the standard procedure., Methods: A feasibility and comparative study using a mixed-methods (convergent) design is currently undergoing. Six occupational therapists will assess the home environment of their patients in the hospital setting: they will first perform a semistructured interview (a) and then use mobile videoconferencing (b) to compare "a versus a+b." Interviews with occupational therapists and patients and their caregivers will further explore the advantages and disadvantages of mobile videoconferencing. Two valid tools are used (the Canadian Measure of Occupational Performance and the telehealth responsivity questionnaire). Direct and indirect time is also collected., Results: The project was funded in the spring of 2016 and authorized by the ethics committee in February 2017. Enrollment started in April 2017. Five triads (n=4 occupational therapists, n=5 clients, n=5 caregivers) have been recruited until now. The experiment is expected to be completed by April 2019 and analysis of the results by June 2019., Conclusions: Mobile videoconferencing may be a familiar and easy solution for visualizing environmental barriers in the home by caregivers and clinicians, thus providing a promising and inexpensive option to promote a safe return home upon hospital discharge, but clinical feasibility and obstacles to the use of mobile videoconferencing must be understood., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/11674., (©Karine Latulippe, Véronique Provencher, Katia Boivin, Claude Vincent, Manon Guay, Dahlia Kairy, Ernesto Morales, Marc-André Pellerin, Dominique Giroux. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (http://www.researchprotocols.org), 14.01.2019.)

Background: Despite compelling evidence linking physical activity and quality of life among adults with spinal cord injury (SCI), exercise participation rates are extremely low in this population. Unfortunately, a lack of behavioral exercise interventions, in particular theory-based randomized controlled trials (RCT), exists within the SCI literature. A pilot RCT is needed to first examine the feasibility to conduct such interventions and determine the appropriate effect size to inform future full-scale interventions., Objective: The overall goal of this pilot RCT is to test an 8-week innovative, video-based telerehabilitation intervention based on self-determination theory and aimed at enhancing the basic psychological needs, motivation, exercise participation, and quality of life‒related outcomes of adults with paraplegia. The objectives are to (1) determine if individuals in the intervention group have greater increases in their basic psychological needs and autonomous motivation and a decrease in controlled motivation compared to the control group, (2) determine whether the intervention group reports greater increases in exercise participation and quality of life‒related variables (eg, life satisfaction, participation in daily/social activities, depressive symptoms) compared to the control group, and (3) examine if adults with paraplegia who received the intervention report improved scores on psychosocial predictors of exercise (eg, action planning) and well-being (eg, positive affect) compared to the control group. We also aimed to examine the implementation characteristics of the intervention (eg, satisfaction with the technology, counselor's ability to foster the psychological needs)., Methods: Adults with paraplegia (N=24) living in the community will be recruited. All participants will be invited to complete assessments of their psychological needs, motivation, exercise, and quality of life‒related variables at three time points (baseline, 6, and 10 weeks). Following the baseline assessment, participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Participants in the intervention group will participate in 8 weekly, 1-hour video-based telerehabilitation sessions with a trained physical activity counselor, while participants in the control group will be asked to continue with their regular routine., Results: We expect higher ratings of the basic psychological needs and autonomous motivation and lower scores for controlled motivation for the intervention group compared to the control group (Objective 1). We also expect that our video-based intervention will have moderate effects on exercise participation, as well as small-to-moderate positive effects on the quality of life‒related variables (Objective 2). Finally, we expect the intervention to have a small positive effect on psychosocial predictors of physical activity and well-being (Objective 3)., Conclusions: We anticipate that the results will show that the intervention is appropriate for adults with paraplegia and feasible to test in a full-scale RCT., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02833935; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02833935 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6u8U9x2yt)., (©Shane Norman Sweet, Meredith Rocchi, Kelly Arbour-Nicitopoulos, Dahlia Kairy, Brigitte Fillion. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (http://www.researchprotocols.org), 19.10.2017.)

Background: Tai chi (TC) has been reported as being beneficial for improving balance post stroke, yet its utility in upper limb rehabilitation remains unknown. Methods: Twelve chronic stroke survivors with persistent paresis of an upper limb underwent 60 minutes of adapted TC twice a week for eight weeks, with a 4-week follow up. A 10-min TC home program was recommended for the days without sessions. TC level of performance, attendance to the sessions, duration of self-practice at home, and adapted TC movements used were recorded. Results: Eleven participants completed the study. A clinical reasoning algorithm underlying the adaptation of TC was elaborated throughout the trial. Participants with varying profiles including a severely impaired upper limb, poor balance, shoulder pain, and severe spasticity were not only capable of practicing the adapted TC, but attended all 16 sessions and practiced TC at home for a total of 16.51 ± 9.21 h. The degree of self-practice for subgroups with low upper limb function, shoulder pain, or moderate-to-severe spasticity was similar to that of subgroups with greater upper limb function, no shoulder pain, and minimal-to-no spasticity. Conclusion: Adapted TC seems feasible for upper limb rehabilitation post stroke. Although the study was based on a small sample size and requires confirmation, low upper limb function, insufficient balance, spasticity, and shoulder pain do not appear to hinder the practice of TC., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The founding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results.

Background: The accessibility for total joint arthroplasty often comes up against long wait lists, and may lead to deleterious effects for the awaiting patients. This pilot single blind randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the impact of a telerehabilitation prehabilitation program before a hip or knee arthroplasty compared to in-person prehabilitation or to usual wait for surgery., Methods/design: Thirty-six patients on a wait list for a total hip or knee arthroplasty will be recruited and randomly assigned to one of three groups. The in-person prehabilitation group (n = 12) will receive a 12-week rehabilitation program (2 sessions/week) including education, exercises of the lower limb and cardiovascular training. Patients in the tele-prehabilitation group (n = 12) will receive the same intervention using a telecommunication software. The control group (n = 12) will be provided with the hospital's usual documentation before surgery. The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) will be the primary outcome measure taken at baseline and at 12 weeks. Secondary measures will include self-reported function and quality of life as well as performance tests. A mixed-model, 2-way repeated-measure ANOVA will be used to analyse the effects of the rehabilitation programs., Discussion: This pilot study is the first to evaluate the feasibility and the impact of a telerehabilitation prehabilitation program for patients awaiting a total joint arthroplasty. The results of this pilot-RCT will set the foundations for further research in the fields of rehabilitation and tele-medicine for patients suffering from lower limb osteoarthritis., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02636751.

Aims: To evaluate the quality of systematic reviews on telemedicine applications in palliative care., Methods: A structured literature review was conducted to identify systematic reviews dealing with telemedicine in palliative care; the AMSTAR (Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews) checklist was used to appraise the evidence related to the systematic reviews., Results: 405 records were initially identified; of these 14 were eligible for full-text analysis. In summary, the research strategy allowed the identification of 6 reviews to be included which showed a medium quality (AMSTAR score in between 4 and 7). All the included systematic reviews considered telemedicine applications as a feasible means to be used in palliative care; however, the positive findings are counterbalanced by several critical issues mainly related to the evidence from the primary studies included in each single review., Conclusions: Results of this first attempt to appraise the evidence in the field of telemedicine applications in palliative care highlighted that there is still limited evidence related to this approach. Strengths and weaknesses that impact on the general quality of the reviews were identified and relevant points to be taken into account for future research were suggested.

Unlabelled: Despite the increased interest about tele-rehabilitation, virtual reality and outcome measures for stroke rehabilitation, surprisingly little research has been done to map and summarize the most common outcome measures used in tele-rehabilitation. For this review, we propose to conduct a systematic search of the literature that reports outcome measures used in tele-rehabilitation or virtual reality for stroke rehabilitation. Specific objectives include: 1) to identify the outcome measures used in tele-rehabilitation studies; 2) to describe the psychometric properties of the outcome measures in the included studies; 3) to describe which parts of the International Classification of Functioning are measured in the studies., Methods: we will conduct a comprehensive search of relevant electronic databases (e.g., PUBMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, PSYCOINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial and PEDRO). The scoping review will include all study designs. Two reviewers will pilot-test the data extraction forms and will independently screen all the studies and extract the data. Disagreements about inclusion or exclusion will be resolved by consensus or by consulting a third reviewer. The results will be synthesized and reported considering the implications of the findings within the clinical practice and policy context. Dissemination: we anticipate that this scoping review will contribute to inform researchers and end-users (ie, clinicians and policy-makers), regarding the most appropriate outcome measures for tele-rehabilitation or virtual reality as well as help to identify gaps in current measures. Results will be disseminated through reports and open access journals, conference presentations, as well as newsletters, podcasts and meetings targeting all the relevant stakeholders.

Communities of practice (CoP) can facilitate collaboration between people who share a common interest, but do not usually work together. A CoP was initiated and developed including stakeholders from clinical, research, community and governmental backgrounds involved in a large multidisciplinary and multi-sectorial project: the Rehabilitation Living Lab in a Mall (RehabMaLL). This study aimed to evaluate the structure, process and outcomes of this CoP. A single case-study, using mixed-methods, evaluated the RehabMaLL CoP initiative after one year, based on Donabedian's conceptual evaluation model. Forty-three participants took part in the RehabMaLL CoP with 60.5% (n = 26) participating at least once on the online platform where 234 comments were posted. Four in-person meetings were held. Members expressed satisfaction regarding the opportunity to share knowledge with people from diverse backgrounds and the usefulness of the CoP for the RehabMaLL project. Collaboration led to concrete outcomes, such as a sensitization activity and a research project. Common challenges included lack of time and difficulty finding common objectives. A CoP can be a useful strategy to facilitate knowledge sharing on disability issues. Future research is necessary to determine strategies of increasing knowledge creation between members.