Table 2.
Characteristics of included studies.
| Source and aim of the paper (N=9) | Target population (number) | Method of data collection | Quality score |
| Lam et al (2015) [31]; Aim: establish the current use and perceptions of gaming, social media, and robotics technologies for rehabilitative purposes from the perspective of adults with upper-limb impairments to identify barriers and enablers to their adoption and use | Stroke survivors (n=8) | Focus groups | 9 |
| Nasr et al (2015) [28]; Aim: examine stroke survivors’ experiences of living with stroke and technology to provide technology developers with insight into values, thoughts, and feelings of the potential users of a to-be-designed robotic technology for home-based rehabilitation of the hand and wrist | Stroke survivors (n=10) and caregivers (n=8) | In-depth interviews | 8 |
| Prange et al (2015) [19]; Aim: identify user requirements for development of an active assistive device to support hand opening during functional activities | Stroke survivors (n=5) and HCPsa (n=6) | Interviews | 5 |
| Radder et al (2015) [15]; Aim: identify user requirements as input for the development of a wearable soft-robotic assistive device for the support of hand function of elderly and stroke survivors in a wide range of ADLb | Stroke survivors (n=4) and HCPs (n=7) | Focus groups | 7 |
| Hughes et al (2014) [5]; Aim: understand HCPs’, stroke survivors’, and carers’ experience and views of upper-limb rehabilitation and ATsc to identify barriers and opportunities critical to effective translation of ATs into clinical practice | Stroke survivors and carers (n=79) and HCPs (n=120) | Questionnaire | 9 |
| Sivan et al (2014) [27]; Aim: investigate if the ICFd framework is a useful basis to ensure that the key user needs are identified in the development of a home-based arm rehabilitation system for stroke survivors | Stroke survivors (n=9) and HCPs (n=6) | Semistructured interviews | 9 |
| Demain et al (2013) [16]; Aim: investigate stroke survivors’, caregivers’, and stroke professionals’ experiences and perceptions of stroke upper-limb rehabilitation and AT use and identify the barriers and facilitators to their use in supporting stroke self-management | Stroke survivors (n=11), family caregivers (n=5), and HCPs (n=6) | Focus groups | 8 |
| Hochstenbach-Waelen and Seelen (2012) [29]; Aim: identify criteria and conditions technology should meet to facilitate (implementation of) technology-assisted arm-hand skills training in rehabilitation therapy of stroke survivors | HCPs (n=6) | Semistructured interviews | 4 |
| Lu et al (2011) [30]; Aim: discover the needs and preferences of therapists with respect to a robot that focuses on upper-limb rehabilitation | HCPs (n=233) | Questionnaire | 9 |
aHCP: health care professional.
bADL: activities of daily living.
cAT: assistive technology.
dICF: International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.