The aim was to explore physiotherapists' perceived barriers and facilitators for using the Seismofit to measure VO2max in cardiorespiratory settings.
We conducted semi-structured interviews to gain insight into the physiotherapist's experience and perceived barriers and facilitators of using the Seismofit. Physiotherapists from two municipal rehabilitation centres and two private physiotherapy practices participating in a six-month tentative trial of the Seismofit were invited to participate. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, anonymised, and inductively coded. The codes were grouped into categories and theoretically analysed using thematic analysis.
Eight physiotherapists were interviewed, three female and five male. The physiotherapist's age ranged from 25-55 years. They had from 1-25 years of clinical experience. The primary facilitating factors identified were a high level of perceived usability, a perceived increase in patient safety during rehabilitation activities, effectivity, and patient motivation to improve their scores. The main barriers identified were related to the individual physiotherapists' lack of interest in innovative technologies per se and perceived limitations of the physical facilities in the clinic, which at times made it challenging to screen off patients during assessments properly. We found that individual physiotherapists' perceptions of the face validity of the Seismofit varied, with some seeing it as a facilitating factor while others viewed it as inhibiting. The physiotherapists also noted that the perceived therapeutic benefit of adding VO2max estimates to cardiorespiratory rehabilitation was linked directly to the individual patient's treatment goals and main challenges. However, the findings further suggest that these factors are context-dependent, such that any individual factor's facilitating or inhibiting influence may vary across different contexts.
This study identifies factors that enable an understanding of the perceived barriers and facilitators for physiotherapists to use the Seismofit to measure VO2max during cardiorespiratory rehabilitation.
This study may provide a common base for discussing the challenges and opportunities associated with adopting and using innovative technologies like the VentriJect Seismofit in clinical practice. This work may also contribute to developing strategies to overcome barriers to implementing innovative technologies in physiotherapy practice.
facilitators and barriers
Innovative technology
