Lay summary
Physical injuries profoundly impact mental health and quality of life. In 2021, work-related injury claims rose to 223,300, a 4,800 increase from 2020. Sustaining patient engagement throughout rehabilitation poses a key challenge. To address this issue, we propose utilising gamification—a concept that leverages game design and principles to make everyday tasks more engaging—to support rehabilitation care. This qualitative study aims to understand the needs of patients and clinicians, assess the feasibility of integrating gamification in healthcare settings and establish project boundaries. Our research question is: What are the obstacles and facilitators in implementing gamification in rehabilitation care, and how can it effectively improve patient wellness? While our work encompasses all New Zealanders, we prioritise the Māori community given their disproportionately higher injury rates. This research sets the groundwork for future translational research and commercialisation of a co-designed gamification solution that improves the wellbeing of injured individuals.