The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of a 3-month coaching-based teleoccupational guidance (CTG) programme for home-based stroke survivors and their family caregivers. An assessor-blind pilot randomised controlled study was conducted. Twenty-five participant dyads (each dyad consisted of one home-based stroke patient and their caregivers) were randomised to a control group (RTG, n = 12) or an experimental group (CTG, n = 13). Participant dyads in the RTG group received routine teleoccupational guidance. Participant dyads in the CTG group received a six-step procedure: coaching-based teleoccupational guidance over 3 months via WeChat. Participant dyad compliance, the difficulty and suitability of outcome measures, and adverse effects were used to assess feasibility. The Reintegration to Normal Living Index, the Lawton Instructive Activities of Daily Life (Lawton IADL) scale, the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, the Fugl–Meyer Assessment—Upper Extremity scale, the 6 min walking test, and the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale were used to assess effectiveness outcomes of home-based stroke survivors; the Caregiver Benefit Finding Scale and the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview were used to assess the effectiveness outcomes of family caregivers. Feasibility measures were assessed at the end of the pilot trial, and effectiveness measures were evaluated pre-intervention and post-intervention (after 3 months). The CTG programme significantly improved home-based stroke survivors’ participation in daily life, IADL score, and intrinsic motivation, and increased caregivers’ perceived benefit, and tended (not significantly) to reduce care burden. CTG has the potential to promote better integration of home-based stroke patients into their families and society, improve their quality of life and family well-being, and provide a reference for home rehabilitation of other clinical chronic diseases. CTG is a safe, effective, and promising intervention for home-based stroke populations and their caregivers and warrants further investigation in a larger randomised controlled trial.

Background. Home-based rehabilitation has been shown to be useful for stroke survivors to participate in daily life activities and return to their families. However, many home-based stroke survivors face challenges in the lack of professional guidance, rational training plans, and insufficient motivation, which will affect their rehabilitation outcomes to varying degrees. Though occupational therapy and coaching are widely recommended for stroke rehabilitation, studies that combine these two interventions via telerehabilitation in home-based rehabilitation are limited. Hence, this study will explore whether coaching-based teleoccupational guidance (CTG) will help stroke survivors and caregivers obtain satisfactory outcomes. Methods. This single-blind (assessor), two-arm parallel superior randomised controlled trial will be conducted in the Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China. Ninety-two participant dyads in home-based rehabilitation will be recruited and randomised to either CTG (intervention group) or a standard telerehabilitation group (control group). Participant dyads in the intervention group will follow a 6-step circle procedure and receive 12 teleoccupational coaching sessions over 3 months via WeChat. Data will be collected at baseline, after the intervention (3 months), and follow-up (6 months). The Reintegration to Normal Living Index will be the primary outcome to assess the participation of stroke survivors. Secondary outcomes will not only involve an observation of changes in activities of daily living, intrinsic motivation, motor function, and quality of life of stroke survivors but also will focus on the caregivers perceived benefit and care burden. Discussion. This trial will assess the effects of CTG compared with standard telerehabilitation. We believe that the results of this study will add to the understanding of occupational therapy for stroke survivors in home-based rehabilitation and provide a reference for developing health policy and facilitating other chronic management. Trial Registration Number. The Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200061107.

Background: Virtual reality (VR) is a rapidly developing technology that has gained significant traction in the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals with stroke. Research on VR-based stroke treatment has garnered increasing attention. Objective: The aim of this study is to present a bibliometric analysis of VR for stroke studies to identify the application status, research hotspots, and emerging trends and guide future scientific research. Methods: We included studies and reviews on the topic of VR-based stroke treatment and rehabilitation from 1999 to 2023 were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection database. Citespace 6.3.1 and VOSviewer 1.6.20 software was used for the visual analysis of publications, institutions, authors, journals, citations, and Scimago Graphica software was used for the geographic visualization of published countries or regions. Results: Our study analyzed 1171 papers on VR-based stroke rehabilitation published between 1999 and 2023, revealing a gradual increase in annual publications over the past 2 decades, peaking at 154 in 2022. North America and Western Europe were identified as major contributors, with significant input from their institutions, researchers, and publications. The Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation emerged as the leading journal in this field, while Calabrò Rocco Salvatore was recognized as the most prolific author, focusing on the neurophysiological impacts of VR on patients with stroke. Keywords with notable citation bursts, such as “environment,” “trial,” “arm,” and “motor learning,” highlighted the core research themes in this domain. Conclusions: Our study provides valuable insights into the current research hotspots and emerging trends in VR-based stroke treatment and rehabilitation. Current research primarily focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of VR in improving upper limb function and balance in patients with stroke. Future directions are shifting towards integrating VR with rehabilitation techniques, such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy, while advancements in VR technology continue to garner increasing attention.

UNSTRUCTURED Background: Digital therapeutics (DTx) are emerging as a dynamic field at the intersection of healthcare and technology, utilizing software-driven interventions to prevent, manage, or treat medical conditions. Within rehabilitation, DTx has gained prominence for its potential to improve patient outcomes and refine therapeutic strategies. This paper conducts a bibliometric analysis of existing literature to uncover current research trends and offer insights for future investigations. Methods: The Science Citation Index Expanded database from the Web of Science Core Collection was used to retrieve articles and reviews related to digital therapeutics in rehabilitation. The data were subjected to systematic analysis using the VOSviewer and Citespace software tools, which facilitated the examination of publication data at the country, institutional, author, journal, citation, and keyword levels. Results: A total of 6,593 papers published between 2000 and 2024 were reviewed. The volume of publications has steadily increased over the past two decades, reaching a peak in 2022 (n = 832). Leading contributors to research output and citation impact include the USA, Italy, China, Canada, and England. Current research hotspots include the efficacy of DTx in rehabilitation, with a focus on innovative applications in psychiatric disorders, telerehabilitation, and cognitive rehabilitation. The top 10 researchers were all from Italy, and half of them were affiliated to the Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo Messina, and all had higher citations than those from other Italian organisations. Conclusions: This study represents the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of DTx within the rehabilitation field. It identifies current research frontiers and emerging directions, serving as a valuable resource for scholars and researchers investigating DTx's impact on rehabilitation practices.