Home⇛Recoletos Multidisciplinary Research Journal⇛vol. 1 no. Special Issue (2025)

Challenges and Opportunities in Developing Stroke Rehabilitation Technologies in the Visayas Region: A Local Regional Perspective

Roy Francis R. Navea | Alyssa Marie Dar Juan | Lancelot Lyle De Jesus | Elda Grace Anota | Honeylene Paloma | Annah Teves

Discipline: bioengineering, medical and biomedical engineering

 

Abstract:

Background: This research examines the challenges and opportunities in stroke rehabilitation technologies, focusing on cost, affordability, and patient accessibility. It also investigates the complex healthcare issues in the Visayas region of the Philippines, including healthcare worker shortages, pay disparities, resource limitations, and limited access to care in remote areas. Methods: The study explores the experiences of medical professionals regarding stroke care and technology use in the Visayas and looks into household caregiver practices, self-management, funding, and policies. Results: Results indicate that mobility difficulties, balancing problems, and limb weakness are major obstacles for patients. Only 33% of respondents receive rehabilitation treatments, highlighting a significant deficiency. Health and community service staff face heavy workloads, serving a larger population than usual. Conclusion: This paper explores technological advances that could revolutionize stroke rehabilitation in regions like the Visayas. Gaining detailed information will enhance understanding of specific needs, enabling tailored interventions to improve outcomes. Integrating telemedicine, VR platforms, robotic devices, and wearable sensors can address accessibility challenges and facilitate patient-specific rehabilitation.



References:

  1. Adriano, F., & Parks, T. (2013). The Case of Mindanao, Philippines. https://asiafoundation.org. https://asiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/The-Contested-Corners-of-Asia_The-Case-of-Mindanao.pdf
  2. Banaag, M.S., Dayrit, M.M., Mendoza, R.U. (2019). Health inequity in the Philippines. In: Batabyal, A., Higano, Y., Nijkamp, P. (eds) Disease, Human Health, and Regional Growth and Development in Asia. New Frontiers in Regional Science: Asian Perspectives, 38. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6268-2_8
  3. Clarke, D. J., & Forster, A. (2015). Improving post-stroke recovery: the role of the multidisciplinary health care team. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 8, 433–442. https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S68764
  4. Collantes, M. E., Navarro, J., Belen, A., & Gan, R. (2022). Stroke systems of care in the Philippines: Addressing gaps and developing strategies. Frontiers in neurology, 13, 1046351. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2022.1046351
  5. Collantes, M. V., Zuñiga, Y. H., Granada, C. N., Uezono, D. R., De Castillo, L. C., Enriquez, C. G., Ignacio, K. D., Ignacio, S. D., & Jamora, R. D. (2021). Current state of stroke care in the Philippines. Frontiers in Neurology, 12, 665086. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.665086
  6. Dayrit, M.M., Lagrada, L.P., Picazo, O.F., Pons, M.C. & Villaverde, M.C. (2018). The Philippines health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 8 (2). https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/274579
  7. Department of Social Welfare and Development. (2024, July 31). Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation. https://aics.dswd.gov.ph/malasakit-centers/
  8. Espiritu, A. I., & San Jose, M. C. Z. (2021). A call for a stroke referral network between primary care and stroke-ready hospitals in the Philippines: A narrative review. The Neurologist, 26(6), 253–260. https://doi.org/10.1097/NRL.0000000000000357
  9. Kayola, G., Mataa, M. M., Asukile, M., Chishimba, L., Chomba, M., Mortel, D., Nutakki, A., Zimba, S., & Saylor, D. (2023). Stroke rehabilitation in low- and middle-income countries: Challenges and opportunities. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 102(2S Suppl 1), S24–S32. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000002128
  10. Kerr, A., Smith, M., Reid, L., & Baillie, L. (2018). Adoption of Stroke Rehabilitation Technologies by the User Community: Qualitative Study. JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies, 5(2), e15. https://doi.org/10.2196/rehab.9219
  11. Malik, A. N., Tariq, H., Afridi, A., & Rathore, F. A. (2022). Technological advancements in stroke rehabilitation. JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 72(8), 1672–1674. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.22-90
  12. Manguerra, M., Baniqued, P., Abad, A., Baldovino, R., Dungao, J., Bugtai, N. (2018). Active motor control for an upper extremity exoskeleton. Advanced Science Letters. 24 (11). 8837-8840. https://doi.org/10.1166/asl.2018.12357
  13. Mapa, C. D. (2024, April 25). PRESS RELEASE: All Economies of 17 Regions Continue to Record Positive Growths in 2023; Central Visayas was the Fastest Growing Region at 7.3 Percent. Republic of the Philippines Philippine Statistics Authority. https://psa.gov.ph/content/release-2023-regional-accounts-philippines
  14. Munsayac, F. E., Espiritu, N. M., Reyes, J., Tan, L. J., Kaplan, A. J. H., Balcita, D. G., Goy, T. P., Perez, E. M., Navea, R. F., Baldovino, R. G., & Bugtai, N. T. (2021). Laparoscopic robot safety compliance, evaluation development tool and application. 2021 IEEE 13th International Conference on Humanoid, Nanotechnology, Information Technology, Communication and Control, Environment, and Management (HNICEM). https://doi.org/10.1109/hnicem54116.2021.9731986
  15. Mumtaz, H., Riaz, M. H., Wajid, H., Saqib, M., Zeeshan, M. H., Khan, S. E., Chauhan, Y. R., Sohail, H., & Vohra, L. I. (2023). Current challenges and potential solutions to the use of digital health technologies in evidence generation: A narrative review. Frontiers in Digital Health, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2023.1203945
  16. Navarro, J. C., Baroque, A. C., 2nd, Lokin, J. K., & Venketasubramanian, N. (2014). The real stroke burden in the Philippines. International Journal of Stroke: Official Journal of the International Stroke Society, 9(5), 640–641. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijs.12287
  17. Navea, R., Alipaspas, M., Guillermo, J., Mañosca, A., & Awang, S. (2021). Implementation of artificial neural network in electric motor control using brain-computer interface. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1997(1), 012036. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1997/1/012036
  18. Prvu Bettger, J., Liu, C., Gandhi, D. B. C., Sylaja, P. N., Jayaram, N., & Pandian, J. D. (2019). Emerging areas of stroke rehabilitation research in low- and middle-income countries. Stroke, 50(11), 3307–3313. https://doi.org/10.1161/strokeaha.119.023565
  19. Sauerzopf, L., Luft, A., Maeusli, V., Klamroth-Marganska, V., Sy, M., & Spiess, M. R. (2024). Technology use for home-based stroke rehabilitation in Switzerland from the perspectives of persons living with stroke, informal caregivers, and therapists: Qualitative interview and Focus Group Study. JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies, 11. https://doi.org/10.2196/59781
  20. Selamat, S. N.S., Che Me, R., Ahmad Ainuddin, H., Salim, M. S., Ramli, H. R., & Romli, M. H. (2022). The application of technological intervention for stroke rehabilitation in Southeast Asia: A scoping review with stakeholders’ consultation. Frontiers in Public Health, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.783565
  21. World Health Organization. (2016). Guidelines on the provision of manual wheelchairs in less-resourced settings. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241547482

Tools


Copyright © 2026  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic