Table 1 Main (bold) and sub-theme descriptions identified through analysis of focus group data

1

Cost beyond the purchase price

Costs extend from the point of purchase through the lifespan of rehabilitation technology, are not only financial in nature, and are incurred across multiple stakeholder groups

Purchase and operational costs

Financial costs incurred in the initial purchase and then eventual replacement of technology as well as ongoing costs associated with technology operation, such as the purchase of accessories and consumables and maintenance fees

Infrastructure requirements

Infrastructure requirements for the environment where technology will be kept and used, for example, physical space, noise levels, and internet connection

Labour and time

Human labour and time necessary for technology set-up and use, including the number of people and the level of supervision required, and the ongoing commitment required from users to achieve desired outcomes

Risk of harm to users

Potential harm to individuals resulting from technology use, for example, the risks to physical and psychological safety and the misuse of personal data

2

Benefits to ‘all’ stakeholders

Desirable outcomes of rehabilitation technology are biopsychosocial in nature, contribute to the quality of life of individual users, and represent savings to the healthcare system

Physical function and health

Improvements in the physical function and health of technology users, that aid in the pursuit of their rehabilitation goals and reduce their incidence of re-hospitalisation

Psychosocial wellbeing

Improvements in the psychosocial wellbeing of technology users, including feelings of empowerment and social connection resulting from and contributing to technology use

Savings to the healthcare system

Savings to the healthcare system resulting from technology use, for example, due to reduced incidence of re-hospitalisation and increased efficiencies in service provision

3

Trust to be earned in technology

Trust is not given easily and instead must be earned before stakeholders are willing to try, purchase, or recommend new technology

Supporting empirical evidence

Empirical evidence that demonstrates the benefits and safety of technology use from clinical trials with representative and diverse samples of potential users

Transparency with stakeholders

Transparency with regards to possible benefits and risks of technology use, facilitated by the use of plain language for effective communication to potential users

Trial availability before purchase

Ability to trial technology personally before purchase, commitment to ongoing use, or recommendation to others

Recommendation by stakeholders

Recommendation or endorsement of trusted stakeholders, particularly peers who are experienced in technology operation

4

Is it usable?

Rehabilitation technology that is easy to set up, use, and troubleshoot for those stakeholders who use technology

Intuitive operation

Technology that can be used intuitively with minimal effort; ideally “plug and play” technology

Reliable operation

Technology that does not break down and can be used reliably by different users

Customisability for individual users

Technology that is customisable to individual users without the need for unanticipated purchases or adaptions

Instructional resources and technical support

Easy to understand, multi-format (e.g., audio-visual) instructional resources and readily accessible technical support

5

Ability to access technology

Access to rehabilitation technology is influenced by its commercial availability, financial accessibility, and environment of use

Commercial availability

Technology that is available in commercial markets, particularly those that are local to payers

Financial access

Technology that can be afforded by payers and that meets individual requirements for funding, for example, that has sufficient supporting empirical evidence

Environment of technology use

Technology that is usable in a variety of environments to meet users’ individual needs and access preferences, including in hospitals, community settings, and users’ homes

6

The ‘co’ in co-design

Rehabilitation technology that has been designed with stakeholders who will both use it and influence its use

Direct stakeholder engagement

Direct engagement of a diverse range of stakeholders, including people with disabilities, clinicians, technical experts, business stakeholders, funding bodies, and regulators

Understanding of diverse needs and utilisation of expertise

Understanding of the diverse needs of stakeholders and utilisation of their expertise in the development of technology