Within the framework of the project SI-N-CRO - Application of information and communication technologies in the early rehabilitation of patients after a stroke in the cross-border area of the Coastal Karst region and the County of Istria, which is implemented as part of the Interreg VI-A Slovenia-Croatia program, the Research Protocol of the pilot study was adopted.
The adoption of the Protocol represents an important step in the implementation of the project because it determines the research methodology, the method of patient involvement, the course of rehabilitation, and the method of monitoring and evaluating the results of the application of modern information and communication technologies in the early rehabilitation of patients after stroke.
A total of 60 patients are planned to participate in the pilot study. The acute phase of the study will be conducted at the Izola General Hospital and the Pula General Hospital, while the Special Hospital for Orthopedics and Rehabilitation "Martin Horvat" Rovinj-Rovigno will play an important role in the continuation of the rehabilitation of patients in the subacute phase.
At the Martin Horvat Special Hospital, rehabilitation will be carried out over approximately three weeks, using standard rehabilitation procedures and, in the experimental group, additional technology-assisted exercise. For this purpose, modern ICT solutions and equipment will be used within the SMART room, which will test the possibilities of their application in the everyday rehabilitation process.
Special emphasis of the research was placed on the safety and feasibility of this form of rehabilitation, as well as on the monitoring of motor, functional, muscle-mechanical, cognitive and psychological indicators of the patient.
The project is being implemented in partnership with the Koper Scientific and Research Center, as the lead partner, Izola General Hospital, Pula General Hospital and the "Martin Horvat" Special Hospital Rovinj-Rovigno.
By adopting the research protocol, prerequisites were created for the next phase of the project - the implementation of pilot research and the development of a common cross-border rehabilitation protocol after a stroke with the application of ICT solutions.
By participating in the SI-N-CRO project, the Martin Horvat Special Hospital continues to develop and apply modern approaches to rehabilitation, while strengthening cross-border cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and experience between healthcare and research institutions in Croatia and Slovenia.
In Rovinj, August 18, 2026.
