Exploring the facilitators and barriers to using the seismofit® to measure VO2max at rest in cardiorespiratory rehabilitation: a qualitative study of physiotherapists

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore physiotherapists’ perceived facilitators and barriers to using the Seismofit to measure VO2max in rehabilitation settings. Materials and Methods: The authors conducted semi-structured individual interviews with eight physiotherapists to gain insight into physiotherapists’ experiences and perceived facilitators and barriers to using the Seismofit. Danish physiotherapists from two municipal rehabilitation centres and two private physiotherapy practices participating in a six-month tentative trial of the Seismofit® were invited to participate. Results: Facilitating factors included high perceived usability, validity, improved patient safety in rehabilitation, effectiveness, and patient motivation to enhance scores. Barriers were physiotherapists’ limited interest in innovative technologies and clinic facility constraints, which sometimes hindered patient separation during assessments. Conclusion: The study’s findings are derived from a relatively small sample but provide valuable contextual insights. The main facilitators were its ease of use, accuracy, and ability to provide objective health outcome measures. Physiotherapists recognised the Seismofits® potential to enhance assessment and monitoring of treatment outcomes. Barriers mainly arose from user-related factors, such as limited interest in digital technologies, and organisational or contextual limitations, which occasionally limited the ability to separate patients appropriately during assessments.