How to engage patients in computerized cognitive training: a cognitive rehabilitation expert’s perspective

Abstract

Purpose

The relationship between a patient and their therapist plays a crucial role in patient engagement. While Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) may assist in preserving cognitive skills in cases of aging, dementia or acquired brain injuries, its effectiveness has not been definitively proven. Improving user engagement, acceptance, and software usability could aid in addressing this issue. The present study aims to identify potential obstacles and facilitators by examining the perspectives of rehabilitation professionals on the current usage of CCT software.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 rehabilitation professionals, familiar with a CCT software. The data were transcribed and followed by an independent iterative thematic analysis.

Results

Two major themes were identified: (1) facilitating factors and (2) difficulties related to use. The main obstacles were difficulties related to the computerized nature of the exercises, technology use, understanding the software and general learning difficulties. The main facilitators were the ecological and novel nature of the exercises, and the adaptability of the difficulty levels.

Conclusion

The complexity of the CCT presents challenges for its usage by rehabilitation professionals, which in turn can impede patient utilization as well. To address this issue and promote sustainable use of the software, providing instruction delivery to facilitate learning and understanding of the CCT is essential. Additionally, creating a standardized foundation that therapists can refer to for guidance may also aid in optimizing the software’s usage. It is recommended to utilize a model for CCT acceptability and acceptance in developing these solutions to enhance patient engagement.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) may help sustain cognitive skills or delay its decline due to causes such as aging, dementia or acquired brain injuries.

• User engagement, user acceptance and software usability could help address these issues.

• The relationship between a patient and their therapist plays a crucial role in patient engagement.

• Difficulties related to using and understanding a CCT software could affect behavioral intention/use.

• Rehabilitation professionals may face difficulties using CCT software, which could in turn, hinder patient utilization.

• Facilitating learning and understanding of the software through instruction delivery to increase acceptance could respond to the existing obstacles.

• A model for CCT acceptability/acceptance may be useful for improving the development of these solutions, to optimize patient engagement.

• Creating a standardized foundation for therapists to refer to could help optimize usage of CCT software.

Keywords:

• Computerized cognitive training
• engagement
• acceptability
• usability
• neurocognitive disorders

Disclosure statement

Christelle Nahas (Ph.D student, attached to the TIMC laboratory, at Grenoble Alpes University) is also an employee of COVIRTUA Healthcare, which developed the software used in this study (ANRT CIFRE Funding). The team includes two other researchers with no conflict of interest: Emmanuel Monfort (TIMC laboratory) and Marc Gandit (LIP/PC2S laboratory). Their involvement should be helpful in minimizing possible biases.

Notes

1 For a presentation of the software, see https://www.covirtua.com/solution.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Association Nationale de la Recherche et de la Technologie.