Planning for Serendipity: Participants, Pathways and Perspectives

Background: Co-design is critical to designing relevant, valued, and effective interventions and assistive technologies, whilst avoiding research waste and improving alignment between research goals and end-user requirements. Co-design is in the “doing with” category in the Mode of Participation model, resulting in more relevant and equitable research outcomes.

Aim: To provide a critical reflection on the contributions of one lived experience participant (Berryman) in the co-design of a novel Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy (VRMT) prototype intervention using music-based mirror therapy for upper limb stroke rehabilitation.
Methods: The co-design for both groups comprised a series of questionnaires, VRMT prototype user-testing and a semi-structured interview.
Results: Berryman provided valuable suggestions for improving the user, musical, and therapeutic experience, as well as the software, by drawing from his lived experience of stroke rehabilitation, software development, and music. The prototype was shaped by two groups of participants: stroke survivors (n = 8) and professionals (n = 9). The professional group included those with clinical, research, software, and musical experience. Including both groups generated a range of feedback and uncovered insights across the design, development, and implementation spectrum.

Conclusions: While Berryman’s experience is specific to this VRMT prototype, this example demonstrates the importance of actively seeking the contributions of lived-experience participants through a co-design process for all research involving stroke survivors. The feedback from both groups has increased the likelihood of producing a more effective, engaging, feasible, and safe prototype.