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Table 1 Semi-structured interview guide

From: Perspectives of people with spinal cord injury learning to walk using a powered exoskeleton

Interview 1 - Pre-training

 1. How did you find out about the ReWalk? Did you try to find out more about the ReWalk? How?

 2. When you first saw or read about the ReWalk exoskeleton – what did you think?

 3. What do you know about the exoskeleton (how it works, what’s involved in training, possible benefits)?

 4. We all have some expectations when we start something new. When you think about training with ReWalk – what are your expectations about how easy or difficult it will be for you to learn to use the ReWalk?

 5. What are your goals related to this ReWalk trial? What is the best outcome? What is the worst outcome?

Interview 2 - Immediately post-training

 1. What were your initial impressions of the ReWalk – once you had a chance to try it? How did it feel the first time you got up on your feet?

 2. Tell me about the training. How did things progress over the 12 weeks?

 3. Do you notice any changes since you started training? Explain (probe for details and timing of changes).

 4. If we said today that you could take the ReWalk home with you, would you take it?

 5. How did you feel as you came up to the end of training?

 6. Follow-up on goals question from pre- intervention (remind participant of goals). Were goals reached, adjusted?

Interview 3 - Two months post training

 1. What have you been up to since training stopped?

 2. Depending on previous responses ask – have the changes you discussed been sustained? Or have you noticed any changes in the last 2 months since training stopped?