Evaluation of the Virtual Engagement Rehabilitation Assistant (VERA)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Using digital technology to increase activity during inpatient rehabilitation: initial evaluation of Virtual Engagement Rehabilitation Assistant (VERA)
IRAS ID
293744
Contact name
Kathryn Jarvis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Central Lancashire
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
Research Summary:
The Virtual Engagement Rehabilitation Assistant (VERA), a portable digital technology, allows service users to access a range of digital resources tailored to support achievement of their individual rehabilitation goals.
The first VERA prototype enables a service-user to access: information about their timetable and appointments; videos of exercises and activities; reminders; well-being questionnaires; games; and links to other relevant resources and information. In this study VERA will be housed on an iPad. Staff from a service-user’s rehabilitation team will provide individualised resources through a portal, accessed through VERA, or through an alternative internet-enabled device.
This study aims to evaluate the implementation process and outcomes of placing the VERA digital technology in a complex inpatient rehabilitation setting, and to explore the adoption of the technology by service users and staff.
‘Non-adoption, Abandonment, and Challenges to the Scale-up, Spread and Sustainability’ (NASSS), a framework designed to evaluate challenges to implementation and adoption of digital technology, will underpin a mixed-methods study.
Up to 20 service-users with complex rehabilitation needs will, following consent, be invited to undertake training and use VERA for a maximum of six weeks as part of their rehabilitation. Data collected from service user participants will include: demographic information, health and well-being measures, a questionnaire to evaluate the VERA training, and at the end of six weeks using VERA, a semi-structured interview.
Up to 20 staff working on the Complex Rehabilitation Unit, will be invited, following consent, to participate in, and evaluate VERA training, and contribute to a focus group to explore their experiences of using VERA in this setting.
The data analysis will aim to understand the feasibility, acceptability, and usability of VERA and to explore who benefits, and who does not benefit from this novel technology. The VERA training will also be evaluated. The findings from this study will inform the future development of VERA.
Summary of Results:
This study explored staff and service-user perceptions of VERA during the implementation of the first prototype onto an NHS complex inpatient rehabilitation ward (the CRU). The findings highlight factors relating to the technology, the value the technology offers, the behaviour and needs of adopters, and the influence of the wider organisation upon implementation.
This study explored staff and service-user perceptions of the VERA technology in an inpatient complex rehabilitation setting. It contributes important data to inform future iterations of VERA and highlights several important factors that influence the use of rehabilitation technologies more widely. Enablers were the appearance of the App., and ease of use. There was enthusiasm for expanding the DHT through integration into the electronic record system. The potential to transfer use to a community setting was also identified. Key challenges included the low reliability of some features of the technology, service user confidence, and the time it took staff to use it, particularly in the initial stages. Features that were identified as desirable for future iterations of VERA were the provision of feedback to service-users and staff, and less reliance on the written word to increase accessibility.REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SC/0284
Date of REC Opinion
17 Aug 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion