title: Biofeedback in Partial Weight Bearing: Usability of Two Different Devices from a Patient's and Physical Therapist's Perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Partial weight bearing is frequently instructed by physical therapists in patients after lower-limb trauma or surgery. The use of biofeedback devices seems promising to improve the patient's compliance with weight-bearing instructions. SmartStep and OpenGo-Science are biofeedback devices that provide real-time feedback. For a successful implementation, usability of the devices is a critical aspect and should be tested from a user's perspective.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the usability from the physical therapists' and a patients' perspective of Smartstep and OpenGo-Science to provide feedback on partial weight bearing during supervised rehabilitation of patients after lower-limb trauma or surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a convergent mixed-methods design, qualitative and quantitative data were collected. Usability was subdivided into user performance, satisfaction and acceptability. Patients prescribed with partial weight bearing and their physical therapists were asked to use SmartStep and OpenGo-Science during supervised rehabilitation. Usability was qualitatively tested by a think-aloud method and a semi-structured interview and quantitatively tested by the System-Usability-Scale (SUS) and closed questions. For the qualitative data thematic content analyses were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine pairs of physical therapists and their patients participated. The mean SUS scores for patients and physical therapists were for SmartStep 70 and 53, and for OpenGo-Science 79 and 81, respectively. Scores were interpreted with the Curved Grading Scale. The qualitative data showed that there were mixed views and perceptions from patients and physical therapists on satisfaction and acceptability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study gives insight in the usability of two biofeedback devices from the patient's and physical therapist's perspective. The overall usability from both perspectives seemed to be acceptable for OpenGo-Science. For SmartStep, overall usability seemed only acceptable from the patient's perspective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study findings could help clinicians to decide which biofeedback device is appropriate for their given situation and provide information for future development of biofeedback devices.
authors: Center for Physical Therapy Research and Innovation in Primary Care, Julius Health Care Centers, Utrecht, the Netherlands.|Physical Therapy Research, Clinical Health Sciences & Department of Rehabilitation, Nursing Science and Sport, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Remko
authors: R
authors: van Lieshout
authors: Center for Physical Therapy Research and Innovation in Primary Care, Julius Health Care Centers, Utrecht, the Netherlands.|Physical Therapy Research, Clinical Health Sciences & Department of Rehabilitation, Nursing Science and Sport, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.|Department of Health Innovations and Technology, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
authors: Martijn F
authors: MF
authors: Pisters
authors: Department of Health Innovations and Technology, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.|Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Benedicte
authors: B
authors: Vanwanseele
authors: Department of Epidemiology, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors: Rob A
authors: RA
authors: de Bie
authors: Department of Health Innovations and Technology, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
authors: Eveline J
authors: EJ
authors: Wouters
authors: Center for Physical Therapy Research and Innovation in Primary Care, Julius Health Care Centers, Utrecht, the Netherlands.|Physical Therapy Research, Clinical Health Sciences & Department of Rehabilitation, Nursing Science and Sport, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.|Department of Epidemiology, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors: Mirelle J
authors: MJ
authors: Stukstette
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D059825:Physical Therapists; D016474:Weight-Bearing