Mini-review: Rehabilitation engineering: Research priorities and trends

Neurosci Lett. 2021 Nov 1:764:136207. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136207. Epub 2021 Sep 1.

Abstract

Rehabilitation Engineering is the use of engineering principles applied to rehabilitation, disability, and independent living. Google Scholar is a searchable resource that allows people from around the world to create profiles of their interests and collaborations, and it provides a means to search the broad scientific and technical literature. Google Scholar was used to identify the 150 most cited people who listed Rehabilitation Engineering in their profile. Research impact, characteristics, and areas of research of the most cited rehabilitation engineers were examined. Furthermore, gender and geographical differences in research metrics of the highest citied rehabilitation engineers were investigated. Consumer priorities in rehabilitation engineering were identified using a voice of consumer (VoC) survey and recent literature based on VoC studies. Gaps between research publication and activities and consumer priorities were identified to recommend seven areas of research with high demand and opportunity for growth and innovation. Implications.

Keywords: Disparity; Google Scholar; Persons with Disabilities; Rehabilitation Engineering; Voice of Consumer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Disabled Persons / rehabilitation*
  • Engineering / statistics & numerical data
  • Engineering / trends*
  • Female
  • Global Health
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Rehabilitation / instrumentation*
  • Rehabilitation Research / statistics & numerical data
  • Rehabilitation Research / trends*
  • Sex Factors