Abstract

Background: Occupational therapists need to be aware of the growing role digital technology plays in everyday life and the meaning stroke survivors associate with technology use.

Aim: To explore the experiences and meaning of digital technology in daily life by stroke survivors.

Materials and methods: A phenomenological study design helped to collect a rich and in-depth understanding of stroke survivors’ experiences and meaning of digital technology in their dailylife; and their perspective of applying digital technology in the implementation of stroke-related telerehabilitation services.

Findings: A global theme was revealed: Access to information and communication may require help or will to learn, can cause problems, different feelings and meanings while using digital technology in daily life.

Conclusion: The findings revealed that participants’ different experiences influenced their perceived meaning of digital technology in daily life and the interest to participate in telerehabilitation services.

Significance: The findings will be valuable for occupational therapists working with stroke survivors. Occupational therapists could support the implementation of stroke-related telerehabilitation in light of the challenges stroke survivors face when using digital technology in daily life by counselling on the use of telerehabilitation services.