Patients' Experiences of Self-Administered Electrotherapy for Spasticity in Stroke and Cerebral Palsy: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Objective: To explore patients' experiences of a self-administered electrotherapy treatment for muscle spasticity in cerebral palsy and stroke; the Exopulse Mollii Suit®.

Design: Qualitative design with an inductive approach Subjects: Fifteen patients with spasticity due to stroke or cerebral palsy, participating in a previous randomized controlled trial evaluating the treatment concept.

Methods: Information letters were sent to all potential participants (n = 27) in the previous study. Semi-structured interviews (21-57 min) were carried out with all subjects who volunteered (n = 15), administered by an experienced interviewer who was not involved in the previous study. Transcribed interviews were subject to content analysis.

Results: The 5 categories that emerged from the content analysis were "New method gives hope", experiences related to "Using the assistive technology", "Outcome from training with the assistive technology", "The assistive technology" and "Taking part in the study". Respondents felt hopeful when included in the previous study, motivated when experiencing a treatment effect, and disappointed when not.

Conclusion: The qualitative approach used in this study elicited complementary information that was not evident from the previous randomized controlled trial. This included statements regarding increased mobility, reduced spasticity, reduced use of medication, and problems related to using the treatment concept.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1

The assistive technology comprising a tight-fitting, full-body garment and a control box worn at the waist. The garment has 58 stimulating electrodes integrated in relation to 40 different muscles, which enables TES therapy to be self-administered according to the individual profile programmed by a professional in a try-out session and stored in the control box (Mollii®, Inerventions AB, Stockholm).

Fig. 2

The previous study set out to evaluate the treatment concept. During the controlled phase, the participants were instructed to use the treatment three to four times a week (every other day), followed by a six-week wash-out period. The second part of the study – the free phase – then followed, enabling the participants to use the treatment at will.

Fig. 3

Overview of the five categories and 14 sub-categories emerging from the interviews.

Fig. 4

The 5 categories emanating from this study presented in relation to dimensions considered in clinical practice.