Additional acute effects of virtual reality head-mounted displays on balance outcomes in non-disabled individuals: a proof-of-concept study

Abstract Aim: This study aims to evaluate the additional acute effect of virtual reality (VR) head-mounted displays (HMD) when associated with balance exercises in balance outcomes in non-disabled individuals. Methods: Thirty individuals were randomized into two groups: balance exercise group (GBE; n = 15); and virtual reality + balance exercise group (GVR + BE; n = 15). The individuals were evaluated by static and dynamic balance using the tandem test (TT), single-leg stance (SLS), and Fukuda stepping test (FST). Both groups performed 30 min of balance exercises. The GVR + BE performed 8 additional minutes of virtual reality prior to balance exercises. A roller coaster application was used for the HMD. The Mann-Whitney test was used for intra-group and differences of inter-group analysis, considering a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: In the GBE group analysis, there was observed an increase of time in TT with closed eyes (p = 0.025) and SLS with closed eyes (p = 0.003). In the same way, the GVR + BE group increase TT with closed eyes (p = 0.003) and SLS with closed eyes (p = 0.002) after the intervention. In the intergroup analysis, the increase in the SLS with closed eyes was superior in the GVR + BE group when compared with GBE (p = 0.006; d = 1.67). Conclusion: The use of HMD in combination with balance exercise has an acute effect on increasing static balance in non-disabled individuals.

Fatores sociodemográficos associados à qualidade de vida no trabalho de adultos com deficiência física / Sociodemographic factors associated with the quality of work life of adults with physical disabilities

Contexto: A qualidade de vida no trabalho (QVT) de pessoas com deficiência física (PcDs) não é satisfatória. Objetivo: Investigar as associações entre os fatores sociodemográficos e a QVT de PcDs. Métodos: Estudo transversal, com abordagem quantitativa, realizado em 2014, em duas instituições que gerenciam a colocação de PcDs no mercado de trabalho. Participaram da investigação 38 sujeitos que responderam a um questionário sociodemográfico e a uma escala sobre qualidade de vida no trabalho. Utilizou-se o Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) para realização dos testes alfa de Cronbach, do χ2 e Fisher. Os preceitos éticos foram considerados. Resultados: O índice de consistência interna da escala se mostrou satisfatório (α=0,792). No tocante à QVT, 44,7% (n=17) dos participantes relataram insatisfação. Verificou-se associação entre a QVT e os fatores sociodemográficos renda (p=0,010), escolaridade (p=0,036) e raça (p=0,027). Conclusão: Conclui-se que a QVT dos participantes não é satisfatória e é influenciada por fatores sociodemográficos.

Background: The quality of work life (QWL) of individuals with physical disabilities is not satisfactory. Objective: To investigate the relationship between sociodemographic factors and QWL among individuals with physical disabilities. Methods: Cross-sectional study with quantitative approach conducted in 2014 at two institutions that help individuals with disabilities find jobs. A total of 38 subjects who responded a sociodemographic questionnaire and a QWL scale participated in the study. Cronbach's alpha, χ2 and Fisher's tests were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The ethical requirements in force were met. Results: The internal consistency of the scale used was satisfactory (α=0.792); relative to QWL, 44.7% (n=17) participants reported dissatisfaction. Association was found between QWL and sociodemographic factors income (p=0.010), education (p=0.036) and race (p=0.027). Conclusion: The participants' QWL was not satisfactory and was influenced by sociodemographic factors.

Avaliação da atenção primária em saúde por usuários com e sem deficiência / Primary health care assessment by users with and without disabilities

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar atributos essenciais (acesso de primeiro contato, longitudinalidade, integralidade e coordenação da atenção) e derivados (orientação familiar e comunitária) da Atenção Primária em Saúde (APS) na percepção de usuários com e sem deficiência. Método Estudo transversal observacional utilizando o questionário Primary Care Assesment Tool em usuários autodeclarados com e sem deficiência de cinco unidades básicas de saúde de um município no qual 55% da população depende do SUS. Foram atribuídos escores para as respostas dadas a cada atributo de atenção primária à saúde avaliado. Resultados Participaram 93 usuários (67 com e 26 sem deficiência). Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante para nenhum dos atributos na comparação entre pessoas com e sem deficiência. Para o grupo como um todo, obtiveram-se escores acima do critério de corte: Grau de afiliação, Acesso de primeiro contato (utilização), Longitudinalidade e Coordenação da atenção (sistema de informação). Receberam pior avaliação: Acesso de primeiro contato (acessibilidade), Coordenação da atenção (integralidade do cuidado), Integralidade (serviços disponíveis e prestados) e Orientação familiar e comunitária. Os usuários reconhecem que as equipes identificam problemas de locomoção e movimentação, mas que existem falhas no reconhecimento de problemas para ouvir, falar e enxergar; e na orientação das pessoas que necessitam de auxílio e das que prestam cuidados. Conclusão Os usuários com e sem deficiência avaliaram de forma semelhante a atenção que recebem e indicaram fragilidades no reconhecimento de demandas específicas. Há necessidade de mudanças (estruturais e do processo de trabalho) para assegurar acessibilidade, integralidade do cuidado e orientação familiar e comunitária e, assim, melhor qualificar a APS.

ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate the core (First Contact, Longitudinality, Comprehensiveness, and Coordination of Services) and derivative (Family Orientation, Community Orientation) attributes of primary health care (PHC) from the perspective of users with and without disabilities. Methods Observational, cross-sectional study using the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT) with users with and without disabilities of five basic health units (BHU) in a municipality where 55% of the population depends on the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Scores were assigned to the responses given to each of the PHC attributes evaluated. Results Study participants were 93 (67 physically disabled and 26 without disabilities) PHC users. No statistically significant differences were observed for any attribute on the comparison between the populations. For both groups, the attributes Degree of Affiliation, First Contact - Utilization, Longitudinality, and Coordination of Services - Information System received satisfactory (above cutoff) scores, whereas the attributes First Contact - Accessibility, Coordination of Services - Care Integration, Comprehensiveness, Family Orientation, and Community Orientation received unsatisfactory (below cutoff) scores. Users reported that the health teams are able to satisfactorily identify mobility issues, but there are failures in the recognition of problems of hearing, voice/speech and vision, and in the orientation of services available and services provided. Conclusion Users with and without disabilities evaluated the health care received similarly, indicating fragilities on the recognition of specific demands. Structural and work process changes should be conducted to ensure Accessibility, Comprehensiveness, and Family and Community Orientation, and thus increase the quality of PHC.

Políticas de inclusión educativa del discapacitado. barreras y facilitadores para su implementación: Bucaramanga, 2010 / Policies for including disabled people in education. obstacles and facilitating factors for their implementation: Bucaramanga, 2010

OBJETIVO: explorar factores barrera y facilitadores para la implementación de las políticas de inclusión educativa de la persona discapacitada en Bucaramanga, Colombia. METODOLOGIA: estudio descriptivo con participación de representantes de los entes gubernamentales, directivos de instituciones educativas y acudientes de personas en situación de discapacidad. Se analizaron barreras y facilitadores de orden físico, social, político y asistencial, que podrían determinar la implementación de las políticas mencionadas. La información se recolectó mediante entrevistas. RESULTADOS: participaron dos personas de los grupos entes gubernamentales, 32 directivos de instituciones educativas y 34 acudientes de personas en situación de discapacidad. Se identificaron como barreras la falta de estrategias de apoyo a las instituciones educativas, escasa o limitada capacitación docente en el tema, altos costos de las pensiones y actitud negativa frente a la discapacidad. Entre los facilitadores se cuentan la disponibilidad de cupos, inclusión del tema en la agenda política e interés familiar porque la persona en situación de discapacidad estudie. DISCUSION: los hallazgos proporcionan información útil para posteriores estudios sobre esta temática y muestran cómo se han desarrollado las acciones, así como la urgencia de establecer una relación directa entre la academia y el sector público para proponer estrategias de evaluación y reorientación de estas políticas.

OBJECTIVE: to explore the factors enabling or hindering the implementation of inclusive education policies for the disabled population of Bucaramanga. METHODOLOGY: a descriptive study, involving representatives from governmental agencies (EG), members of the faculty boards of educational institutions (DIE) and guardians of disabled individuals (APSD). Physical, social, and political obstacles and facilitating factors that could potentially determine the implementation of these policies were analyzed. Data was collected through interviews. RESULTS: there was a total of 2, 32, and 34 participants from the EG, DIE, and APSD groups respectively. Identified obstacles included: lack of strategies to support educational institutions, poor or limited teacher training, high tuition fees, and negative attitude towards disability. The facilitating factors included: availability of places, inclusion of this issue in the political agenda, and desire of the disabled individuals' families to provide them with education. DISCUSSION: These findings provide useful information for further research on this issue and show how action has been taken, as well as how urgent it is to establish a direct relationship between academia and the public sector to propose strategies for assessing and modifying these policies.