In-home monitoring support for dementia caregivers: a feasibility study.

Technology provides new opportunities for interventions to improve quality and access to health care. This study evaluated a telehealth application to support family dementia caregivers providing homecare. We explored feasibility of in-home video monitoring and feedback to help caregivers and reduce caregiving burden. A caregiver-patient dyad was recruited from a Midwestern University Alzheimer's Disease Center. The caregiver triggered video recordings on a laptop computer using a remote control that also recorded 5 min prior to pressing "record." Recordings were automatically uploaded via the Internet for interdisciplinary team review and feedback. Issues related to Internet transfer and storage of health information and computer security were addressed. Professionals reported the value of video recordings for identifying antecedents and evaluating caregiver responses. The caregiver reported improved communication and behavior management and ease of use. This study developed protocols, processes, and contractual arrangements and established the feasibility and benefits of home monitoring as a basis for ongoing research.

Development of an accessible Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview (A-CASI) to screen for abuse and provide safety strategies for women with disabilities.

To increase safety and minimize the risk of interpersonal violence, it is critical that women with disabilities and Deaf women have an opportunity to identify whether or not abuse is happening in their lives. Awareness and knowledge of what constitutes abusive behaviors is an essential first step in addressing interpersonal violence. This article includes a description of the development and evaluation of the Safer and Stronger Program (SSP), an audio computer-assisted self-interview program, which was created for women with disabilities and Deaf women for the purposes of increasing awareness of abuse, encouraging safety-planning behaviors, and providing information about community resources.

Evaluation of interventions for rotator cuff pathology: a systematic review.

A systematic review of published evidence was conducted investigating surgical and conservative management of rotator cuff disease. Medical databases searched included Medline, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and the Cochrane Collaboration library. Two independent reviewers evaluated each article for inclusion. Established criteria were used to assess the methodologic quality of articles examining outcomes of treatment interventions for rotator cuff disease. Due to the low methodologic quality of the studies that are currently available in this area, there is insufficient evidence to strongly support or refute the effectiveness of any available treatment intervention for rotator cuff pathology. The best available evidence supports open and primary surgery over arthroscopic debridement and revision surgery; and in the area of conservative management, electrotherapy, steroid use, exercise therapy, and acupuncture. There is a clear need for more methodologically sound studies to achieve strong evidence on which treatment practices can be based.