Aruna Daniswari, Mahalul Azam, Sri Ratna Rahayu

Transformation of Stroke Rehabilitation through Occupational Game Consoles: A Quasi-Experimental Study at RSUD Dr. Adhyatma, MPH, Semarang

Introduction

Transformation of stroke rehabilitation through occupational game consoles: a quasi-experimental study at rsud dr. Adhyatma, mph, semarang. Explore how occupational game consoles transform stroke rehabilitation, enhancing motor function, independence, and patient engagement. A quasi-experimental study shows significant improvements.

Abstract

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, often resulting in impaired motor function and reduced independence in daily activities. Innovative and engaging rehabilitation strategies are urgently needed to improve patient outcomes and adherence. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an occupational game console in improving functional abilities among stroke patients. A quasi-experimental study was conducted at RSUD Dr. Adhyatma, MPH, Semarang, between March and June 2024, involving 30 stroke patients aged 30–70 years. All participants completed in a 4-week rehabilitation program without a control group. They received structured therapy using an occupational game console designed to enhance motor coordination, muscle strength, and independence. Functional improvements were measured using the Barthel Index (BI), Manual Muscle Test (MMT), and Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT). Data were analyzed using paired sample t-tests with a significance level set at p < 0.05. The participants included 18 males (60%) and 12 females (40%). Most were in the 51 60 years age group (40.0%), followed by 41–50 years (26.7%), and smaller proportions in 30–40 years (16.7%) and 61–70 years (16.7%). In term of stroke duration, 56.7% had experienced a stroke for 5–8 months, 23.3% for 0–4 months, and 20.0% for 9–12 months. The results showed significant improvements in functional outcomes, with BI scores increasing from 45 (moderate dependence) to 65 (mild dependence), MMT scores improving from 3/5 to 4/5, and NHPT times decreasing from 120 to 90 seconds (p < 0.01). Additionally, 85% of patients reported higher motivation and engagement due to the console’s interactive and gamified features. Occupational game consoles demonstrate promising potential as innovative and accessible tools to support stroke rehabilitation by enhancing motor function, independence, and patient engagement. Future studies should include randomized controlled trials with larger samples and longer durations to assess long-term effectiveness and broader clinical applications.

Review

This study presents a timely and relevant investigation into the use of occupational game consoles for stroke rehabilitation, addressing the critical need for engaging and effective strategies to combat long-term disability. The authors demonstrate promising initial findings, reporting significant improvements across multiple functional outcomes, including the Barthel Index, Manual Muscle Test, and Nine Hole Peg Test, after a four-week intervention period. Particularly noteworthy is the high reported increase in patient motivation and engagement (85%), which is a crucial factor in adherence to often arduous rehabilitation programs. The identified potential of these consoles to enhance motor function and independence, while making therapy more interactive, positions them as a valuable adjunct to traditional stroke rehabilitation. However, the methodological design of this quasi-experimental study presents several substantial limitations that temper the strength of its conclusions. The most significant drawback is the absence of a control group, which makes it impossible to definitively attribute the observed improvements solely to the occupational game console intervention. Without a comparison, it is difficult to differentiate the effects of the console from natural recovery, the general benefits of any structured rehabilitation, or a Hawthorne effect. Furthermore, the relatively small sample size (30 patients) and the single-center design limit the generalizability of the findings. The four-week intervention period, while showing acute changes, is too short to assess long-term efficacy or sustained functional improvements, especially in the context of chronic stroke. Despite these methodological constraints, the study provides valuable preliminary data supporting the potential utility of occupational game consoles in stroke rehabilitation. The authors rightly acknowledge these limitations and appropriately recommend future research, specifically advocating for randomized controlled trials with larger samples and longer follow-up durations. Such robust studies are essential to establish causality, quantify the specific benefits of this innovative approach compared to standard care, and explore its long-term impact and broader clinical applicability. This initial exploration serves as an important foundation, highlighting an exciting avenue for further rigorous investigation into gamified rehabilitation for stroke survivors.

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