Preliminary User-Centred Evaluation of a Bio-Cooperative Robotic Platform for Cognitive Rehabilitation in Parkinson's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Insights from a Focus Group and Living Lab in the OPERA Project.

ABSTRACT: Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects up to 40% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), yet conventional rehabilitation often lacks engagement. The OPERA project developed a novel Bio-cooperative Robotic Platform (PRoBio), integrating a service robot and a virtual reality-based rehabilitation for personalized cognitive training. This work presents two preliminary user-centred studies aimed to assess PRoBio usability and acceptability. Methods: to gather qualitative feedback on robotic and virtual reality technologies, through ad hoc questionnaires, developed according to participatory design principles and user-centered evaluation literature, Study 1 (Focus group) involved 23 participants: 10 PD patients (F = 6; mean age = 68.9 ± 8.2 years), 5 caregivers (F =

SUBMITTER: Crocetto Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12525349 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature