Co-designing smart assistive gloves with stroke patients for self-rehabilitation: improving wearability through customised ergonomic fit

This study aimed to develop smart gloves with improved wearability for hand self-rehabilitation exercises for stroke patients. To this end, we applied the co-design process comprising the five stages of understanding, defining, ideation, customisation, and evaluation. Throughout the process, we employed a mixed-methods data collection strategy that included interviews, 3D body scanning, user journey maps, and usability evaluations. Taking a recursive process, multiple glove designs were ideated, and prototyped to meet users’ needs and achieve desired wearability through customised fit. The results of usability evaluations confirmed significant improvements in wearability, convenience, acceptability, satisfaction, and overall task time (all p < .05). Furthermore, participants indicated positive outlooks on the co-design process and resulting product outcomes. Findings affirmed practical benefits of the co-design process with actual patients as an effective means to develop assistive wearable devices closely aligned with users’ physical and clinical needs, thus provoking motivation to use them in real life.