Professionals' perspectives on the challenges of implementing digital solutions in rehabilitation settings in Rwanda
The need for rehabilitation is unmet, especially in low- and middle-income countries such as Rwanda. Digital rehabilitation offers significant potential for delivering rehabilitation services in low-resource settings, and this study examines the challenges affecting the digitalization of rehabilitat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Digital Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1489288/full |
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| author | Kaisa Jokinen Michael Oduor Gerard Urimubenshi Juliette Gasana Jean Damascene Bigirimana David K. Tumusiime David K. Tumusiime Eeva Aartolahti Kari-Pekka Murtonen Katariina Korniloff |
| author_facet | Kaisa Jokinen Michael Oduor Gerard Urimubenshi Juliette Gasana Jean Damascene Bigirimana David K. Tumusiime David K. Tumusiime Eeva Aartolahti Kari-Pekka Murtonen Katariina Korniloff |
| author_sort | Kaisa Jokinen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The need for rehabilitation is unmet, especially in low- and middle-income countries such as Rwanda. Digital rehabilitation offers significant potential for delivering rehabilitation services in low-resource settings, and this study examines the challenges affecting the digitalization of rehabilitation. Semi-structured interviews and a survey were conducted in Rwanda with rehabilitation professionals to collect data for two different projects. The different datasets were analyzed using thematic analysis and inductive content analysis. As a result, three main concepts were formed: context-related factors, individual-related factors, and technology-related factors. Results suggest that the challenges in implementing digital solutions in rehabilitation settings in Rwanda encompass various domains, including socioeconomic factors, infrastructure, digital competency, regulatory frameworks, and user-related factors. In conclusion, because of multifaceted challenges, systemic-level change is needed to realize the potential of the digitalization of rehabilitation and other health care services in Rwanda. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9ca4e4b0937e4abaadf727f7a658c711 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-253X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-9ca4e4b0937e4abaadf727f7a658c7112025-08-20T03:36:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Digital Health2673-253X2025-08-01710.3389/fdgth.2025.14892881489288Professionals' perspectives on the challenges of implementing digital solutions in rehabilitation settings in RwandaKaisa Jokinen0Michael Oduor1Gerard Urimubenshi2Juliette Gasana3Jean Damascene Bigirimana4David K. Tumusiime5David K. Tumusiime6Eeva Aartolahti7Kari-Pekka Murtonen8Katariina Korniloff9Institute of Rehabilitation, Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Jyväskylä, FinlandInstitute of Rehabilitation, Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Jyväskylä, FinlandDepartment of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, RwandaDepartment of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, RwandaInstitute of Rehabilitation, Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Jyväskylä, FinlandDepartment of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, RwandaThe Regional Centre of Excellence in Biomedical Engineering and eHealth, University of Rwanda, Kigali, RwandaInstitute of Rehabilitation, Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Jyväskylä, FinlandInstitute of Rehabilitation, Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Jyväskylä, FinlandInstitute of Rehabilitation, Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Jyväskylä, FinlandThe need for rehabilitation is unmet, especially in low- and middle-income countries such as Rwanda. Digital rehabilitation offers significant potential for delivering rehabilitation services in low-resource settings, and this study examines the challenges affecting the digitalization of rehabilitation. Semi-structured interviews and a survey were conducted in Rwanda with rehabilitation professionals to collect data for two different projects. The different datasets were analyzed using thematic analysis and inductive content analysis. As a result, three main concepts were formed: context-related factors, individual-related factors, and technology-related factors. Results suggest that the challenges in implementing digital solutions in rehabilitation settings in Rwanda encompass various domains, including socioeconomic factors, infrastructure, digital competency, regulatory frameworks, and user-related factors. In conclusion, because of multifaceted challenges, systemic-level change is needed to realize the potential of the digitalization of rehabilitation and other health care services in Rwanda.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1489288/fulldigital rehabilitationdigitalizationrehabilitationRwandasocioeconomic factorsdigital technologies |
| spellingShingle | Kaisa Jokinen Michael Oduor Gerard Urimubenshi Juliette Gasana Jean Damascene Bigirimana David K. Tumusiime David K. Tumusiime Eeva Aartolahti Kari-Pekka Murtonen Katariina Korniloff Professionals' perspectives on the challenges of implementing digital solutions in rehabilitation settings in Rwanda Frontiers in Digital Health digital rehabilitation digitalization rehabilitation Rwanda socioeconomic factors digital technologies |
| title | Professionals' perspectives on the challenges of implementing digital solutions in rehabilitation settings in Rwanda |
| title_full | Professionals' perspectives on the challenges of implementing digital solutions in rehabilitation settings in Rwanda |
| title_fullStr | Professionals' perspectives on the challenges of implementing digital solutions in rehabilitation settings in Rwanda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Professionals' perspectives on the challenges of implementing digital solutions in rehabilitation settings in Rwanda |
| title_short | Professionals' perspectives on the challenges of implementing digital solutions in rehabilitation settings in Rwanda |
| title_sort | professionals perspectives on the challenges of implementing digital solutions in rehabilitation settings in rwanda |
| topic | digital rehabilitation digitalization rehabilitation Rwanda socioeconomic factors digital technologies |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1489288/full |
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