Clinician perspectives on the implementation of inpatient cycling-based exergames for children with cerebral palsy: A qualitative study

ABSTRACT

Objective

To understand the perspectives of key stakeholder clinicians in implementing inpatient cycling-based exergames for children with cerebral palsy (CP) into pediatric rehabilitation.

Methods

Sixteen clinicians (nurses, physiotherapists, recreational therapists) that participated in a study exploring the feasibility of implementing cycling-based exergames for inpatient children with CP were interviewed. Clinicians’ responses were coded using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Beliefs were generated from each response and relevant domains were identified.

Results

Ten domains from the TDF were identified as relevant. Key enablers to clinician participation in future implementation included revision of clinician roles and responsibilities, the belief that children with CP will benefit from exergames, and the belief in potential applicability to other pediatric populations. Barriers included clinician limited time and exergame responsibilities not aligning with perceived clinician roles.

Conclusions

This study identifies key barriers and enablers that future inpatient pediatric rehabilitation settings should consider when incorporating exergames into rehabilitation practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Cerebral palsy
• rehabilitation
• neurotechnology
• exergame
• theoretical domains framework

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the clinicians who participated in this study. This research was supported by Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital’s Centre for Leadership program and A.C. received the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Canadian Graduate Scholarship (CGS M) award. The funders have no involvement in the study design, data collection, data analysis, article preparation or publication decisions.

Disclosure Statement

D.F. has intellectual property interest surrounding the Liberi Exergames. The authors report no other conflict of interest.

Supplementary Material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17518423.2022.2099474

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Canada Graduate Scholarship award and research grant funding from Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation