{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,29]],"date-time":"2026-07-29T22:29:34Z","timestamp":1785364174257,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,9]],"date-time":"2026-01-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767916800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Virtual Worlds"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, and new technologies such as Fully Immersive Virtual Reality (FIVR) are being explored to promote functional recovery as well as optimize rehabilitation outcomes. The aim of the present study was to explore Greek OTs\u2019 perspectives on the use of FIVR in rehabilitation of the upper limb after stroke. Two focus groups took place with six experienced OTs, who were recruited from diverse clinical settings across Greece. The interviews were facilitated using a semi-structured guide and inductively coded using thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke\u2019s six-stage process. Six theme-rich findings were elicited. Therapists identified FIVR\u2019s potential to enable patient involvement, motivation, and recovery of function through the use of immersion and feedback-based practice. They reported significant barriers, however, in terms of technical challenges, safety issues, and costly equipment. OTs also highlighted the fact that occupation-based, culturally sensitive task design is central to ensuring ecological validity and transfer to naturalistic settings. There is a high potential for FIVR in stroke rehabilitation, but it requires user-centered design, cultural adaptation, adequate training, and systemic support towards long-term implementation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/virtualworlds5010004","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,9]],"date-time":"2026-01-09T08:09:06Z","timestamp":1767946146000},"page":"4","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Greek Occupational Therapists\u2019 Perspectives on the Clinical Application of Fully Immersive Virtual Reality in Post-Stroke Upper Limb Rehabilitation: An Exploratory Qualitative Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"5","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-2073-7452","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dimosthenis","family":"Lygouras","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Informatics, School of Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, 65404 Kavala, Greece"},{"name":"Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, University of Western Macedonia, Keptse Area, 50200 Ptolemaida, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5043-0226","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Avgoustos","family":"Tsinakos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Informatics, School of Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, 65404 Kavala, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3665-5271","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ioannis","family":"Seimenis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0484-369X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Konstantinos","family":"Vadikolias","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurology, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"433","DOI":"10.2147\/JMDH.S68764","article-title":"Improving post-stroke recovery: The role of the multidisciplinary health care team","volume":"8","author":"Clarke","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. 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