Outcome measures applied to robotic assistive technology for people with cerebral palsy: a pilot study.

The application of robotic devices is being used as Assistive Technology (AT) for improving rehabilitation interventions. The purposes of this research were to (1) test a novel low-cost robotic AT to support interventions for people with Cerebral Palsy (CP); (2) determine its usability; and (3) analyze its impact. It was a pilot study with prospective, longitudinal and analytical cohorts was done. Intervention was developed in one association (NGO) of people with CP. Participants were 6 women and 3 men with CP, with a mean age of 51.67. Intervention with LOLA2 (a robotic platform, not wearable, equipped with artificial intelligence) was implemented for training some activities of daily life (ADL) of participants. Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Technology Scale (PIADS), and Assistive Technology Device Predisposition Assessment (ATPA) were used for outcome measures. Level of participants' independence was high (FIM = 98). Psychosocial impact of the robotic platform in terms of competence (M = 0.25), adaptability (M = 0.33), and self-esteem (M = 0.25), was positive, but low. The mean in ATDPA (M = 3) reflects a moderate match. No significant variations concerning the changes in functional independence were detected. The robotic platform is applicable and complementary AT for rehabilitation. This study leads to implementing some improvements in its design, proposed activities, human-robot interaction, and system for registering information.

Robotic devices such as LOLA2 show promise as complementary tools in rehabilitation for individuals with Cerebral Palsy (CP), highlighting the potential for improved outcomes in clinical practice.There is a clear need for enhancements in the usability, universal design, and technical specifications of robotic platforms like LOLA2 to ensure their full functionality and quality, underscoring the importance of ongoing development and refinement.Utilizing specific outcome measures tailored to assess the efficacy and applicability of assistive technologies (AT), including robotic devices, is crucial for comprehensive evaluation and informed decision-making in rehabilitation interventions.Further research with higher validity is necessary to expand the evidence base surrounding the use of robotic devices in assistive technology, guiding specialized technical decisions and enhancing their integration into rehabilitation practices.

Quality of Sleep Data Validation From the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 Against Polysomnography: Comparison Study.

BACKGROUND: Polysomnography is the gold standard for measuring and detecting sleep patterns. In recent years, activity wristbands have become popular because they record continuous data in real time. Hence, comprehensive validation studies are needed to analyze the performance and reliability of these devices in the recording of sleep parameters. OBJECTIVE: This study compared the performance of one of the best-selling activity wristbands, the Xiaomi Mi Band 5, against polysomnography in measuring sleep stages. METHODS: This study was carried out at a hospital in A Coruña, Spain. People who were participating in a polysomnography study at a sleep unit were recruited to wear a Xiaomi Mi Band 5 simultaneously for 1 night. The total sample consisted of 45 adults, 25 (56%) with sleep disorders (SDis) and 20 (44%) without SDis. RESULTS: Overall, the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 displayed 78% accuracy, 89% sensitivity, 35% specificity, and a Cohen κ value of 0.22. It significantly overestimated polysomnography total sleep time (P=.09), light sleep (N1+N2 stages of non-rapid eye movement [REM] sleep; P=.005), and deep sleep (N3 stage of non-REM sleep; P=.01). In addition, it underestimated polysomnography wake after sleep onset and REM sleep. Moreover, the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 performed better in people without sleep problems than in those with sleep problems, specifically in detecting total sleep time and deep sleep. CONCLUSIONS: The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 can be potentially used to monitor sleep and to detect changes in sleep patterns, especially for people without sleep problems. However, additional studies are necessary with this activity wristband in people with different types of SDis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04568408; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04568408. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.3390/ijerph18031106.

Juego simbólico para promover el desempeño ocupacional de menores con sintomatología neurológica / Symbolic play to promote the occupational performance of children with neurological symptomatology

Objetivos: el objetivo es conocer si una intervención de terapia ocupacional basada en el juego simbólico es efectiva para promover el desempeño ocupacional de los menores con sintomatología neurológica. Métodos: estudio piloto en un centro de rehabilitación neurológica utilizando el juego simbólico como recurso terapéutico con 8 menores con sintomatología neurológica durante 8 semanas. Se han empleado diferentes instrumentos de evaluación estandarizados para capturar la participación en el juego, el desempeño ocupacional e identificar y medir la consecución de objetivos. Resultados: se describe el desempeño del juego de las personas participantes y se observa una mejora estadísticamente significativa en la movilidad y función social tras la intervención. Hay una tendencia ligera de aumento en los dominios de actividades de la vida diaria y todos los menores alcanzaron, al menos, uno de los objetivos establecidos. Conclusiones: los participantes han mejorado su desempeño ocupacional y sus progenitores consideran que son más independientes. Se observa un aumento en la motivación de los menores para participar en ocupaciones y una disminución del apoyo proporcionado por los progenitores. No se puede generalizar que el juego simbólico sea efectivo como método de intervención al ser un estudio piloto, proponiéndose nuevas líneas de investigación para realizar estudios de mayor impacto. (AU)

Objective: The objective is to know if an occupational therapy intervention based on symbolic play is effective in promoting the occupational performance of children with neurological symptoms. Methods: Pilot study in a neurological rehabilitation center using symbolic play as a therapeutic resource with 8 children with neurological symptoms for 8 weeks. Different standardized assessment instruments have been used to capture participation in the game, occupational performance and identify and measure the achievement of objectives. Results: The game performance of the participants is described and a statistically significant improvement in mobility and social function is observed after the intervention. There is a slight upward trend in the PEDI-CAT and PEDI domains and all the children achieved at least one of the established objectives. Conclusions: The participants have improved their occupational performance and their parents consider that they are more independent. There is an increase in the motivation of the children to participate in occupations and a decrease in the support provided by parents. It cannot be generalized that symbolic play is effective as an intervention method as it is a pilot study, proposing new lines of research to carry out studies with a greater impact. (AU)

Use of the Xiaomi Mi Band for sleep monitoring and its influence on the daily life of older people living in a nursing home.

Background: Lower quantity and poorer sleep quality are common in most older adults, especially for those who live in a nursing home. The use of wearable devices, which measure some parameters such as the sleep stages, could help to determine the influence of sleep quality in daily activity among nursing home residents. Therefore, this study aims to analyse the influence of sleep and its changes concerning the health status and daily activity of older people who lived in a nursing home, by monitoring the participants for a year with Xiaomi Mi Band 2. Methods: This is a longitudinal study set in a nursing home in [Details omitted for double-anonymized peer reviewed]. The Xiaomi Mi Band 2 will be used to measure biomedical parameters and different assessment tools will be administered to participants for evaluating their quality of life, sleep quality, cognitive state, and daily functioning. Results: A total of 21 nursing home residents participated in the study, with a mean age of 86.38 ± 9.26. The main outcomes were that sleep may influence daily activity, cognitive state, quality of life, and level of dependence in activities of daily life. Moreover, environmental factors and the passage of time could also impact sleep. Conclusions: Xiaomi Mi Band 2 could be an objective tool to assess the sleep of older adults and know its impact on some factors related to health status and quality of life of older nursing homes residents. Trial Registration: NCT04592796 (Registered 16 October 2020) Available on: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04592796.

Analysis of Older Adults in Spanish Care Facilities, Risk of Falling and Daily Activity Using Xiaomi Mi Band 2.

BACKGROUND: Presently the use of technological devices such as wearable devices has emerged. Physical activity monitoring with wearable sensors is an easy and non-intrusive approach to encourage preventive care for older adults. It may be useful to follow a continuous assessment of the risk of falling. The objective is to explore the relationship between the daily activity measured by Xiaomi Mi Band 2 and the risk of falling of older adults residing in or attending care facilities. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on three different institutions located in Galicia (autonomous community) (Spain). RESULTS: A total of 31 older adults were included in the study, with a mean age of 84 ± 8.71 years old. The main findings obtained were that a greater number of steps and distance could be related to a lower probability of falling, of dependency in basic activities of daily living, or of mobility problems. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of focusing on daily steps, intrinsically related to the objective assessment of daily physical activity, is that it is a modifiable factor that impacts different aspects of health and quality of life.

Stakeholder Perspectives to Support Graphical User Interface Design for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Study.

The development of digital supports for people with autism has increased considerably in recent years. Technology designers and developers have interpreted the needs and learning styles of people with autism in different ways. As a result, there are generic, non-specific or heterogeneous guidelines for the design and development of technology for people with autism. This study aims to identify and describe the recommended elements to support graphical user interface design for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), considering the stakeholders' perspective, engaged in a computer application development. A qualitative, longitudinal, multicentre study was carried out. A sample of 39 participants belonging to four groups of stakeholders participated: children with autism, family members, professionals with experience in the intervention with children with autism, and professionals with expertise in the design and development of assistive technology. The techniques used to formalise the collection of information from participants were semi-structured interviews and observation. MAXQDA 2020 software (Verbi Software, Berlin, Germany) was used to analyse the data. The result is a guide with suggestions to support an interface design that emerges from the stakeholder perspectives. This study provides useful information to offer alternatives for children with ASD and facilitate the understanding of daily life.

Study for the Design of a Protocol to Assess the Impact of Stress in the Quality of Life of Workers.

(1) Background: Work stress is one of the most relevant issues in public health. It has a significant impact on health, especially the development of mental disorders, causing occupational imbalance. There is a growing interest in the development of tools with a positive effect on workers. To this end, wearable technology is becoming increasingly popular, as it measures biometric variables like heartbeat, activity, and sleep. This information may be used to assess the stress a person is suffering, which could allow the development of stress coping strategies, both at a professional and personal level. (2) Methods: This paper describes an observational, analytical, and longitudinal study which will be set at a research center in A Coruña, Spain. Various scales and questionnaires will be filled in by the participants throughout the study. For the statistical analysis, specific methods will be used to evaluate the association between numerical and categorical variables. (3) Discussion: This study will lay the foundation for a bigger, more complete study to assess occupational stress in different work environments. This will allow us to begin to understand how occupational stress influences daily life activity and occupational balance, which could directly enhance the quality of life of workers if the necessary measures are taken.

How Loan Bank of Assistive Technology Impacts on Life of Persons with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Neuromuscular Diseases: A Collaborative Initiative.

(1) Background: The study is focused on the implementation of outcome measurement tools to assess the impact of an assistive device from a loan bank in the lives of people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Neuromuscular Diseases. The secondary purpose is to analyse the correct matching between the person and technology, derived from the counselling of an occupational therapist. (2) Methods: Cross-sectional study. The sample was formed by 28 people with rare neurodegenerative disorders. A specific questionnaire, the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Device Scale (PIADS), and the Matching Person and Technology (MPT) tool were applied to collect the data. (3) Results: The dimension of the PIADS with the best score was competence, and the variations according to gender were not remarkable. The three dimensions of the PIADS (competence, adaptability, and self-esteem) were correlated positively between them and with the mean score of the MPT tool (p < 0.01). The type of assistive technology (AT), diagnosis, and correct match between person-technology are the main factors that condition a positive impact. (4) Conclusions: The results noted the importance of assessing the needs, demands, and contexts of people with rare neurodegenerative diseases to prescribe the best AT. Loan banks of AT have to be considered a valid service that complements their lack in public health services.

Occupational Therapy and the Use of Technology on Older Adult Fall Prevention: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Falls are the second leading cause of accidental or non-intentional deaths worldwide and are the most common problem as people age. The primary purpose of addressing falls is to detect, prevent, treat, and reduce their incidence and consequences. Previous studies identified that multifactorial programs, an interprofessional team, and assistive technology are required to address falls in older adults effectively. Accordingly, the research question is as follows: what are the scope, type of studies, and approaches and strategies to fall risk using technology in the existing occupational therapy literature regarding interventions to address the effects of falls in older adults on daily living? Methods: This scoping review was carried out in January 2020 through Biblioteca Virtual de Salud España, C.I.N.A.H.L., Cochrane Plus, OTSeeker, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Results: Twelve papers were included. We analyzed the year and journal of publication, authors' affiliation, and design of the study, and thematic categories. There were three themes: participants' characteristics, type of intervention, and fall approach and type of technology used. Discussion and Conclusions: The literature obtained is scarce. It is considered to still be an emerging theme, especially when considering the use of technology for occupational therapy.

Study Protocol on the Validation of the Quality of Sleep Data from Xiaomi Domestic Wristbands.

(1) Background: Sleep disorders are a common problem for public health since they are considered potential triggers and predictors of some mental and physical diseases. Evaluating the sleep quality of a person may be a first step to prevent further health issues that diminish their independence and quality of life. Polysomnography (PSG) is the "gold standard" for sleep studies, but this technique presents some drawbacks. Thus, this study intends to assess the capability of the new Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5 to be used as a tool for sleep self-assessment. (2) Methods: This study will be an observational and prospective study set at the sleep unit of a hospital in A Coruña, Spain. Forty-three participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be asked to participate. Specific statistical methods will be used to analyze the data collected using the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5 and PSG. (3) Discussion: This study offers a promising approach to assess whether the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5 correctly records our sleep. Even though these devices are not expected to replace PSG, they may be used as an initial evaluation tool for users to manage their own sleep quality and, if necessary, consult a health professional. Further, the device may help users make simple changes to their habits to improve other health issues as well. Trial registration: NCT04568408 (Registered 23 September 2020).

Determining the burden of the family caregivers of people with neuromuscular diseases who use a wheelchair.

The present study provides a basic outline of the care and support that family caregivers offer to people affected by neuromuscular diseases.To determine the presence of burden in caregivers of people with neuromuscular diseases who use a wheelchair and to establish whether the presence of burden is influenced by contextual factors, between them, the use of wheelchair.The applied design was cross-sectional and descriptive. The data were collected through a specific questionnaire, the Functional Independence Measure, the Matching Person and Technology form and the Zarit Burden Interview. The caregiver burden was analyzed in relation to different characteristics of the affected people, their wheelchairs, and factors related to the family caregivers themselves. The sample consisted of 41 caregivers, most of them (78.1%) being parents of the affected people.The burden was detected in 71.7% of caregivers. The level of dependence was not related to the presence of burden. Performing care work affected carers' physical health (80.5%), their mood (68.3%), and reduced their leisure time (90.2%). The type of wheelchair and the frequency of its use were not related to the burden.The results suggest that caregivers perceive burden, but its intensity is not related to the seriousness of the disease of the care receiver.

Technologies for participatory medicine and health promotion in the elderly population.

INTRODUCTION: The progressive aging of the population is a socio-demographic phenomenon experienced by most countries in the world in recent decades, especially in Japan and in many European Union countries. During this process, so-called "geriatric syndromes" frequently occur. The focus of this study is the quality of life of the elderly in relation to these 3 factors: risk of falls, urinary incontinence, and insomnia. OBJECTIVE: The main purpose is to determine the impact of a multifactorial intervention program implemented with institutionalized elderly people. The program is focused on the treatment of the aforementioned factors. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The study will be carried out with elderly people living in three residences for the elderly in A Coruña Province (Galicia, Spain).It is a prospective and longitudinal study, with a temporary series design of a "quasi-experimental" type that evaluates the effect of an intervention in 1 given population by doing assessments pre- and post-intervention, but there is no comparison with a control group.The intervention will be based on a multifactorial program, including the following phases: the use of wearable devices (wearable fitness trackers to register physical activity and sleep), the use of an App on a Tablet to record the participants' occupations and activities, counseling about performance in activities of daily living, the implementation of a physical activity program, and the treatment of the pelvic floor (according to each research line). The Quality of Life (QoL) will be assessed before and after the intervention, with the use of the questionnaire EuroQol-5D-5L. Data analysis will be applied with all registered variables through a quantitative perspective. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The protocol has been approved by the host institution's ethics committee (Research Ethics Committee of Galicia) under the number 2017/106. Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed journal articles and conferences. This clinical trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03504813.

Assessing mouse alternatives to access to computer: a case study of a user with cerebral palsy.

The purpose of this study is to describe the process of assessment of three assistive devices to meet the needs of a woman with cerebral palsy (CP) in order to provide her with computer access and use. The user has quadriplegic CP, with anarthria, using a syllabic keyboard. Devices were evaluated through a three-step approach: (a) use of a questionnaire to preselect potential assistive technologies, (b) use of an eTAO tool to determine the effectiveness of each devised, and (c) a conducting semi-structured interview to obtain qualitative data. Touch screen, joystick, and trackball were the preselected devices. The best device that met the user's needs and priorities was joystick. The finding was corroborated by both the eTAO tool and the semi-structured interview. Computers are a basic form of social participation. It is important to consider the special needs and priorities of users and to try different devices when undertaking a device-selection process. Environmental and personal factors have to be considered, as well. This leads to a need to evaluate new tools in order to provide the appropriate support. The eTAO could be a suitable instrument for this purpose. Additional research is also needed to understand how to better match devices with different user populations and how to comprehensively evaluate emerging technologies relative to users with disabilities.