The first three articles are from the DIRECT project and the last one is from the NextStep to Scale Project.
This research in Kenya explored the availability and accessibility of rehabilitation services. Interviews with professionals and end-users revealed high demand but limited service availability. Participants expressed enthusiasm for digital integration to improve access. Common reasons for seeking rehabilitation included trauma and various disabilities. End-users shared experiences navigating rehabilitation, including overcoming stigma and misconceptions. Professionals identified barriers to access, discussed work challenges, and highlighted the potential of technology, while also expressing some reservations. Similar to Rwanda, understaffing, resource limitations, and the need for training were noted. The research also highlighted the role of community health workers in providing healthcare and rehabilitation, particularly in rural areas with limited infrastructure.
- Oduor, M. (2023). Rehabilitation Professionals' Attitudes Towards Technology Use and their Perspectives on Rehabilitation Services. Jamk Arena Public. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:jamk-issn-2984-0791-26
This article summarises a study evaluating the use of the Inclusion App (Physitrack), a digital rehabilitation tool, in Rwanda, Indonesia, and Kenya to improve access to rehabilitation services in primary care. The study involved interviews with Community Health Workers (CHWs) and service users to understand their experiences with the application, which provides access to basic exercise programs. The research highlights challenges in accessing rehabilitation, including healthcare inequalities, lack of awareness, socio-economic factors, and the scarcity of rehabilitation professionals, especially in rural areas. User experiences with the application were varied, and some service users lacked access to smart devices, limiting their ability to fully use it.
- Oduor, M. & Aartolahti, E. (2024). Community Health Workers and Service Users’ Experiences of a Community-based Digital Rehabilitation Application. Jamk Arena Public. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:jamk-issn-2984-0791-74
This study, conducted in Rwanda, examined the accessibility and experiences with rehabilitation services, including the digital rehabilitation solution, Physitrack. The findings revealed that access to rehabilitation is limited by factors such as the uneven distribution of professionals, travel distance, referral challenges, conflicting diagnoses, high costs, lack of assistive devices, and insufficient information. Despite these barriers, clients generally valued the care they received. The digital platform, Physitrack, received positive feedback for its user-friendliness and features, such as personalized exercise plans and remote monitoring. An earlier digital solution had accessibility issues related to email access, which many clients did not have.
- Oduor, M., Aartolahti, E. & Korniloff, K. (2025). Exploring Digital Rehabilitation: Perspectives of Rwandan Service Users and Professionals. Jamk Arena Public. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:jamk-issn-2984-0791-163
This article discusses the development of an AI-powered digital rehabilitation framework aimed at improving rehabilitation services, particularly in primary care settings. The framework uses AI to provide personalised support and guidance to users through an AI Assistant (AIRe Talk) while also enabling healthcare professionals to customise and train the AI (AIRe Hub). The goal is to create a more adaptable, accessible, and patient-focused rehabilitation system by integrating AI with existing health information systems. The need for a holistic approach to address fragmentation in rehabilitation services and emphasises the importance of ensuring equitable access to these technologies to avoid worsening health inequalities is also highlighted.
- Oduor, M., Lällä, K., Eriksen, M., Korniloff, K. & Murtonen, K-P. (2025). Bridging AI and Primary Care: AI-assisted Health System Integration Model for the Inclusion App. Jamk Arena Pro. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:jamk-issn-2984-0783-249