What factors influence clinicians' use of technology in neurorehabilitation? A multisite qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE Technology is being increasingly used for physical assessment and interventions in health care settings. However, clinical adoption is relatively slow, and the factors affecting use remain underexplored. This study aimed to investigate factors influencing technology use by clinicians working in neurorehabilitation. METHODS In this qualitative study, 9 physical therapists and 9 occupational therapists (n = 18) were recruited from urban and regional locations in Australia and in Singapore. Three 60-minute focus groups were conducted via video conferencing. Each group comprised 3 physical therapists and 3 occupational therapists working across different neurorehabilitation settings. Participants were asked to discuss which technologies they used in their workplace for physical assessment and treatment, and barriers, motivators and future desires for technology use. Transcripts were analysed independently using an inductive approach to generate codes and themes. RESULTS Our results comprised 3 themes and 7 categories. These were encompassed by a single overarching theme, namely 'Technology use is influenced by the benefits and challenges of the technology itself, users and organisational context'. Themes showed that technology should promote effective interventions, was preferred if easy to use, and should be dependable. Furthermore, clinical reasoning is important, and users have varying levels of receptivity and confidence in technology use. Also, organisational resources are required, along with supportive cultures and processes to facilitate technology use. CONCLUSIONS The themes identified multiple and interlinking factors influencing clinicians' use of technology in neurorehabilitation settings. Clinicians often consider context-specific benefits and challenges when deciding whether to use technology. While our study found that clinicians generally perceived technology as having a beneficial role in improving health outcomes, there were several challenges raised. Therefore, the characteristics of the technology itself, individual users, and organisational context should be considered. IMPACT These findings will guide successful technology implementation and future developments.