Digital Apps to Improve Mobility in Adults with Neurological Conditions: A Health App-Focused Systematic Review.

The provision of mobility exercises through a smartphone application (app) for people undertaking neurological rehabilitation may improve mobility outcomes. However, it is difficult for clinicians and consumers to select high-quality, appropriate apps. This review aimed to identify (1) which mobile health (mHealth) apps are suitable for prescribing mobility exercises for adults with neurological health conditions, (2) how well these apps incorporate telehealth strategies, and (3) how well these apps rate in terms of quality and capacity for behaviour change. The Australian Apple iTunes Store was systematically searched, by using a search code and manually, for apps suitable for training mobility in neurological rehabilitation. Additional searches were conducted in known app repositories and for web-based apps. Trained reviewers extracted data from the included apps, including population-specific characteristics; quality, by using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS); and behaviour change potential, by using the App Behaviour Change Scale (ABACUS). The included apps (n = 18) provided <50 to >10,000 exercises, many incurred a subscription fee (n = 13), and half included telehealth features. App quality was moderate (mean MARS score of 3.2/5 and SD of 0.5), and potential for behaviour change was poor (mean ABACUS score of 5.7/21 and SD of 2.1). A limited number of high-quality apps are available for the prescription of mobility exercises in people with neurological conditions.

Adult experiences of constraint-induced movement therapy programmes: a qualitative study using the Theoretical Domains Framework and Capability, Opportunity, Motivation - Behaviour system.

AIM: To explore the experiences of adults who completed a constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) programme, and the barriers and enablers to their participation. METHODS: Qualitative design using semi-structured interviews. Stroke and brain injury survivors (n = 45) who had completed CIMT as part of their usual rehabilitation were interviewed 1 month post-CIMT. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and imported into Nvivo for analysis. Inductive coding was used to identify initial themes. Themes were then deductively mapped to the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation - Behaviour system, a behaviour change model, to identify barriers and enablers to CIMT programme adherence and engagement. RESULTS: Enablers influencing participation included being provided with education about the programme (Capability - psychological), seeing improvements in arm function (Motivation - reflective), being committed to the programme (Motivation - reflective) and having strong social support from staff, family and allied health students (Opportunity - social). The structured programme was a motivator and offered a way to fill the time, particularly during inpatient rehabilitation (Opportunity - physical). Barriers to participation included experiencing physical and mental fatigue (Capability - physical) and frustration early in the CIMT programme (Motivation - automatic), and finding exercises boring and repetitive (Motivation - automatic). CONCLUSION: Therapist provision of educational supports for CIMT participants and their families is important to maximise CIMT programme uptake. During CIMT delivery, we recommend the provision of positive feedback and coaching in alignment with CIMT principles, and the inclusion of social supports such as group-based programmes to enhance participant adherence.

Development of a behaviour change intervention to increase the delivery of upper limb constraint-induced movement therapy programs to people with stroke and traumatic brain injury.

Purpose: Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a recommended intervention for arm recovery after acquired brain injury but is underutilised in practice. The purpose of this study is to describe the development of a behaviour change intervention targeted at therapists, to increase delivery of CIMT.Methods: A theoretically-informed approach for designing behaviour change interventions was used including identification of which behaviours needed to change (Step 1), barriers and enablers that needed to be addressed (Step 2), and intervention components to target those barriers and enablers (Step 3). Data collection methods included file audits and therapist interviews. Quantitative data (file audits) were analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data analysis (interviews) was informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and Behaviour Change Wheel.Results: Fifty two occupational therapists, physiotherapists and allied health assistants participated in focus groups (n = 7) or individual interviews (n = 6). Key barriers (n = 20) and enablers (n = 10) were identified across 11 domains of the TDF and perceived to influence CIMT implementation. The subsequent behaviour change intervention included training workshops, nominated team champions, community of practice meetings, three-monthly file audit feedback cycles, poster reminders and drop-in support during CIMT.Conclusion: This study describes the development of a behaviour change intervention to increase CIMT delivery by clinicians.Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, Trial ID: ACTRN12617001147370.

Constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a highly effective intervention for arm recovery after acquired brain injury, recommended in multiple clinical practice guidelines, yet delivery of CIMT is often not part of routine practice.The Behaviour Change Wheel, COM-B (capability, opportunity, motivation- behaviour) system and Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) helped identify barriers and enablers to CIMT delivery by therapists, and design a theoretically-informed behaviour change intervention.The effect of the behaviour change intervention on therapists practice can now be evaluated to determine if it increases the delivery of CIMT more routinely in practice.

Increasing the delivery of upper limb constraint-induced movement therapy programs for stroke and brain injury survivors: evaluation of the ACTIveARM project.

PURPOSE: To increase the number of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) programs provided by rehabilitation services. METHODS: A before-and-after implementation study involving nine rehabilitation services. The implementation package to help change practice included file audit-feedback cycles, 2-day workshops, poster reminders, a community-of-practice and drop-in support. File audits were conducted at baseline, every three months for 1.5 years, and once after support ceased to evaluate maintenance of change. CIMT participant outcomes were collected to evaluate CIMT effectiveness and maintenance (Action Research Arm Test and Motor Activity Log). Staff focus groups explored factors influencing CIMT delivery. RESULTS: CIMT adoption improved from baseline where only 2% of eligible people were offered and/or received CIMT (n = 408 files) to more than 50% over 1.5 years post-implementation (n = 792 files, 52% to 73% offered CIMT, 27%-46% received CIMT). Changes were maintained at 6-month follow-up (n = 172 files, 56% offered CIMT, 40% received CIMT). CIMT participants (n = 74) demonstrated clinically significant improvements in arm function and occupational performance. Factors influencing adoption included interdisciplinary collaboration, patient support needs, intervention adaptations, a need for continued training, and clinician support. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation package helped therapists overcome an evidence-practice gap and deliver CIMT more routinely.

Constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a highly effective intervention for arm recovery after acquired brain injury, recommended in multiple clinical practice guidelines yet delivery of CIMT in practice remains rare.A multifaceted implementation package including clinician training workshops, a community of practice, drop in support and regular audit and feedback cycles improved delivery of CIMT programs in practice by neurorehabilitation teams.Stroke survivors and people with brain injury who received a CIMT program in usual practice demonstrated clinically important improvements in arm function, dexterity and occupational performance.

Cost-Effectiveness of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Implementation in Neurorehabilitation: The ACTIveARM Project.

BACKGROUND: Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a recommended intervention for improving arm recovery following stroke and traumatic brain injury; however, delivery in practice remains rare. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the costs and cost effectiveness of CIMT delivery, and the use of a CIMT implementation package designed to improve CIMT uptake and delivery by therapists in Sydney, Australia. METHODS: This economic evaluation was conducted with a subset of CIMT programmes (n = 20) delivered by neurological rehabilitation teams at five varied hospitals within a mixed methods implementation study (ACTIveARM). The costs of delivering the CIMT implementation package and publicly funded CIMT were calculated using a bottom-up approach. A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted, using decision analytic modelling. We compared the uptake and outcomes of people who received CIMT from health services that had received a CIMT implementation package, with those receiving standard upper limb therapy. An Australian health care system perspective was used in the model, over a 3-week time horizon (the average timeframe of a CIMT programme). All costs were calculated in Australian dollars (AUD). Inputs were derived from the ACTIveARM study and relevant literature. The Action Research Arm Test was used to measure arm outcomes. Sensitivity analyses assessed the impact of improving CIMT uptake, scale-up of the implementation package and resource adjustment, including a 'best-case' scenario analysis. RESULTS: The total cost of delivering the implementation package to nine teams across five hospitals was $110,336.43 AUD over 18 months. The mean cost of delivering an individual CIMT programme was $1233.38 AUD per participant, and $936.03 AUD per participant for group-based programmes. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of individual CIMT programmes was $8052 AUD per additional person achieving meaningful improvement in arm function, and $6045 AUD for group-based CIMT. The ICER was most sensitive to reductions in staffing costs. In the 'best-case' scenario, the ICER for both individual and group-based CIMT was $245 AUD per additional person gaining a meaningful change in function. CONCLUSION: Therapists improved CIMT uptake and delivery with the support of an implementation package, however cost effectiveness was unclear. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://anzctr.org.au/Trial ID: ACTRN12617001147370.