Research participation requests are sent to the Stroke Association from external research institutions (e.g. universities and hospitals), which we post on My Stroke Guide.
We conduct basic checks on these before promoting but are not involved in their running. This means we cannot comment on trials and have no affiliation with them.
A research team from multiple universities would like to talk to stroke survivors, healthcare professionals, and people who provide support (formally or informally) or rehabilitation to stroke survivors.
What is the study about?
Robot assisted dressing has the potential to support stroke survivors’ independence which is positively associated with quality of life.
To facilitate safe human-robot interactions, we need to understand people’s views on assisted dressing through focus-groups, interviews, and co-design workshops. These will help us to develop computer models, specifications, and algorithms.
We want to create ways of performing robot assisted dressing that can be trusted by people. To achieve this we need to hear the thoughts and opinions of the people that would use this.
What will it Involve?
Healthcare Professionals will be asked to take part in a video call for approximately two hours to explore the opinions of privately or NHS practising healthcare professionals in relation to dressing practice for the upper torso of people with stroke.
People affected by stroke will be asked to join in-person co-design workshops (in London and Sheffield) for approximately three hours to explore how you would feel about a robot assisting with tasks such as getting dressed.
People affected by stroke will also be asked to take part in one-hour interviews. These will be conducted with a professional occupational therapist and involve a video call to collect visual cues, such as your facial expressions, hand gestures, and body postures when feeling certain emotions.
Travel costs will be covered by the project if these are incurred, and stroke survivors will receive shopping vouchers as thanks for your time (£10 per hour).
Who can take part?
For the focus groups we are looking for healthcare professionals who work with stroke patients.
For the co-design workshops we are looking for stroke survivors and people involved in providing support (formally or informally) or rehabilitation to stroke survivors.
For the interviews we are looking for stroke survivors.
Participants will need to be based in the UK and fluent in English.
Our workshops will be in London and Sheffield so you will need to be able to travel to one of these two areas (precise locations TBD).
How Can I Register my Interest?
If you are interested in more information or would like to sign up, please contact Yasmeen Rafiq by y.b.rafiq@sheffield.ac.uk
The deadline for interest is 31 October 2023
