Brain-computer interface technology: a review of the first international meeting.

Over the past decade, many laboratories have begun to explore brain-computer interface (BCI) technology as a radically new communication option for those with neuromuscular impairments that prevent them from using conventional augmentative communication methods. BCI's provide these users with communication channels that do not depend on peripheral nerves and muscles. This article summarizes the first international meeting devoted to BCI research and development. Current BCI's use electroencephalographic (EEG) activity recorded at the scalp or single-unit activity recorded from within cortex to control cursor movement, select letters or icons, or operate a neuroprosthesis. The central element in each BCI is a translation algorithm that converts electrophysiological input from the user into output that controls external devices. BCI operation depends on effective interaction between two adaptive controllers, the user who encodes his or her commands in the electrophysiological input provided to the BCI, and the BCI which recognizes the commands contained in the input and expresses them in device control. Current BCI's have maximum information transfer rates of 5-25 b/min. Achievement of greater speed and accuracy depends on improvements in signal processing, translation algorithms, and user training. These improvements depend on increased interdisciplinary cooperation between neuroscientists, engineers, computer programmers, psychologists, and rehabilitation specialists, and on adoption and widespread application of objective methods for evaluating alternative methods. The practical use of BCI technology depends on the development of appropriate applications, identification of appropriate user groups, and careful attention to the needs and desires of individual users. BCI research and development will also benefit from greater emphasis on peer-reviewed publications, and from adoption of standard venues for presentations and discussion.

Gait analysis in rehabilitation medicine: a brief report.

Gait analysis can be a powerful tool for rehabilitation research and clinical practice. However, there has been little coordinated effort to set goals for the application of gait analysis in rehabilitation. Therefore, a priority setting process was engaged to obtain the opinions of a diverse pool of experts related to human motion analysis. The primary goal of this process was to develop priorities for future research, development, and standardization in gait analysis. A multistep approach was used that included expert testimony, group discussions, individually developed priorities, and a ranking process. Several important priorities emerged from this activity. The highest priority was assigned to research on the efficacy, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of gait analysis.

Research on physical activity and health among people with disabilities: a consensus statement.

Research is required to advance the understanding of issues related to the effect of physical activity on health and disease prevention among people with disabilities. This report is the result of a consensus process using selected experts in health and exercise. The purpose of the consensus conference was to identify research priorities for physical activity and health among people with disabilities. Priorities were established by 30 participants, who were selected by the principal investigators to achieve balance in the areas of engineering, epidemiology, medicine, nutrition, exercise physiology, and psychology. Experts summarized relevant data from their research and from comprehensive review of the scientific literature on the topic areas chosen for the conference. Public commentary was provided by participants in the 1996 Paralympic Congress. Panel members discussed openly all material presented to them in executive session. Commentary from open discussion periods were recorded and transcribed. Selected panelists prepared first drafts of the consensus statements for each research priority question. All of these drafts were distributed to the panelists and pertinent experts. The documents were edited by the drafting committee to obtain consensus. This research priority setting process revealed that greater emphasis must be placed on determining the risks and benefits of exercise among people with disabilities. Exercise must be studied from the perspective of disease prevention while mitigating risk for injury. Five areas were identified as focal points for future work: epidemiological studies; effects of nutrition on health and ability to exercise; cardiovascular and pulmonary health; children with disabilities; and accessibility and safety of exercise programs. As people with disabilities live longer, the need for addressing long-term health issues and risk for secondary disability must receive greater attention. As a consequence of the consensus process, specific recommendations for future research regarding the impact of exercise on the health and quality of life of persons with disabilities were defined.

Workshop on pediatric AIDS rehabilitation: a summary.

The workshop offered the following recommendations for research on pediatric AIDS: (1) investigating cross-cutting issues such as pain and/or QOL; (2) identifying effective service delivery and associated cultural considerations; (3) promoting data sharing and standardized instruments; and (4) examining affected body systems.

Continuing competency for health professionals: caveat emptor.

Continuing competency presents a challenge for professionals in the environmental health field and other public heath disciplines. It is argued that traditional continuing professional education alone is inadequate and other alternatives need to be developed which are complementary. Issues and concerns related to mandatory vs. voluntary continuing professional education are discussed. Communities of interest in the process are described which include practitioners, employers, faculty and consumers, each of whom contribute to a definition of competence. A format for increasing interaction among these communities and a credentialing--continuing competency model is presented. The model addresses the notion that obtaining and maintaining competency is an on-going dynamic process.

Identifying talented health administration students: a look at academic criteria.

The objective of this study was to examine the relationships of undergraduate academic and admission test performance with graduate academic performance. Results could aid in selecting health service administration students in the future. The sample included 139 students (40 women and 99 men) entering seven health services administration programs during the fall of 1975 and graduating during the spring and summer of 1977. Participating programs were located in the Midwest, Northeast, South, and West Coast. Independent variables included undergraduate academic performance and admission test scores, while the dependent variable was graduate academic performance. Correlation analyses revealed that: (a) the verbal and quantitative subtest scores of the GRE were related to most aspects of graduate academic performance for men but only to selected aspects for women, (b) performance on the MAT was related to women's graduate academic performance in quantitative courses, and (c) men's and women's composite undergraduate grade point average was not related to composite graduate grade point average. These findings suggest that some of the standardized tests presently employed as admission screening devices should be used judiciously.