Evaluating the Usability and Safety of Virtual Reality Application Combined with the SWalker for Functional Gait Rehabilitation.

Objective: This research evaluates from a usability point of view the combination of a developed fully immersive virtual reality (VR) solution with the SWalker robotic device. It aims to contribute to research in the exploration of immersive experiences overground with a functional gait recovery device. Materials and Methods: We evaluated the system in a pilot study with 20 healthy participants aged 85.1 (SD: 6.29). Participants used the SWalker-VR platform while testing one VR application focused on walking and the other on balance practice. Afterward, the participants answered three usability questionnaires. Results: The platform was validated in terms of safety using the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire, obtaining less than 20 points for all subscales: nausea (4.29 ± 14.47), oculomotor (0.38 ± 14.18), and disorientation (1.39 ± 14.52). For usability evaluation, the System Usability Scale provided an overall score of 70.63 ± 11.64, and the Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ) rated 1.61 ± 0.54. The usability scores reported by both questionnaires were moderate and good, respectively. These results were similar in overall scores for both groups: participants with low cognitive level and participants with high cognitive level. Finally, the possible causes for the "no answered" responses on the PSSUQ were discussed. Conclusion: It is concluded that the SWalker-VR platform is reported to have adequate usability and high security by older adults. The potential interest of studying the effects of the long-term use of this platform by older adults with gait impairment is expressed. Clinical Trials reference: NCT06025981.

Development and Clinical Validation of a Rehabilitation Platform for Hip Fracture in Elderly Population.

Hip fracture is one of the most common traumatisms associated with falls in the elderly, severely affecting the patient's mobility and independence. In recent years, the use of robotic technology has proven to be effective in gait rehabilitation, especially for neurological disorders. However, there is a lack of research validating these devices for hip fracture in elderly patients. This paper presents the design and evaluation of a novel assistive platform for hip rehabilitation, SWalker, aimed at improving the rehabilitation of this condition. Functional validation of the SWalker platform was carried out with five healthy elderly subjects and two physiotherapists. Clinical validation was conducted with 34 patients with hip fracture. The control group ( [Formula: see text], age = 86.38±6.16 years, 75% female) followed conventional therapy, while the intervention group ( [Formula: see text], age = 86.80±6.32 years, 90% female) was rehabilitated using SWalker. The functional validation of the device reported good acceptability (System Usability Scale >85). In the clinical validation, the control group required 68.09±27.38 rehabilitation sessions compared to 22.60±16.75 in the intervention group ( [Formula: see text]). Patients in the control group needed 120.33±53.64 days to reach ambulation, while patients rehabilitated with SWalker achieved that stage in 67.11±51.07 days ( [Formula: see text]). FAC and Tinetti indexes presented a larger improvement in the intervention group when compared with the control group ( [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively). The SWalker platform can be considered an effective tool to enhance autonomous gait and shorten rehabilitation therapy in elderly hip fracture patients. This result encourages further research on robotic rehabilitation platforms for hip fracture.

Factores asociados a la demanda insatisfecha en la consulta externa de un hospital de Ica, 2015 / Factors associated with unmet demand in the outpatient department of a hospital in Ica, 2015

Objetivo: Determinar los factores asociados de la demanda insatisfecha en la consulta externa del Hospital Regional de Ica en Marzo del 2015. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal, observacional, descriptivo y correlacional, para lo cual se entrevistó a 2088 usuarios que acudieron en busca de atención por consultorio externo en el 2015, empleando un cuestionario confeccionado por los investigadores, que fue previamente validado mediante prueba piloto. Los datos obtenidos fueron analizados con estadística descriptiva univariada y bivariada, con modelo matemático de regresión logística a un nivel de significancia de p<0,05. Resultados: La mayoría de usuarios fueron adultos (59,8%), de género femenino (62,3%). La demanda insatisfecha fue de 36,9%, con variaciones por diarias que van desde 23,1% hasta 53,9% siendo mayor para los consultorios de Cirugia especialidades (42,2%), se halló asociación con la edad (p=0,002), estado civil (p=0,001), años de estudios aprobados (p=0,0003), ingreso económico (p=0.00003), ocupación (p=0,003) y tiempo de espera (p=0,00001). Dentro de las categorías que presentaron mayor riesgo de demanda insatisfecha se encuentran: adultos mayores (OR 1,6, p=0,001), viudos (OR 2, p=0,000), analfabetos (OR 2,5, p=0,002), profesionales (OR 1,9, p=0,008), tiempo de espera menor a una hora (OR 2,000 y P=0,006). Conclusión: La demanda insatisfecha fue de 36,9%, los factores asociados fueron: edad, estado civil, años de estudio aprobados, ocupación y tiempo de espera. (AU)

Objective: To determine the factors associated with unmet demand in the outpatient clinic of theRegional Hospital of Ica in March 2015.Material and Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, de-scriptive and correlational study was conducted, for which we interviewed 2088 users attending seekingoutpatient care during the last week of March 2015, using a questionnaire prepared by the researchers,which was previously validated through pilot testing. The data obtained were analyzed with univariate andbivariate descriptive statistics, mathematical model with logistic regression to a significance level of p<0.05.Results:Most users were adults (59,8%) females (62,3%). The unmet demand was 36,9%, with dailyvariations ranging from 23,1% to 53,9% being higher for Surgery specialty clinics (42,2%), an association wasfound with age (p = 0,002), marital status (p = 0,001), completed years of education (p = 0,0003), income(p = 0,00003), occupation (p = 0,003) and waiting time (p = 0,00001). Within the categories that showedincreased risk of unmet demand are: elderly (OR 1,6, p = 0,001), widowed (OR 2, p = 0,000), illiterate (OR2,5, p = 0,002), professional (OR 1,9, p = 0,008), duration of less than one hour (OR 2,000 and P = 0,006)expected.Conclusion: The unmet demand was 36,9%, associated factors were age, marital status, years ofstudy, occupation and timeout. (AU)

Pesticide uptake in potatoes: model and field experiments.

A dynamic model for uptake of pesticides in potatoes is presented and evaluated with measurements performed within a field trial in the region of Boyacá, Colombia. The model takes into account the time between pesticide applications and harvest, the time between harvest and consumption, the amount of spray deposition on soil surface, mobility and degradation of pesticide in soil, diffusive uptake and persistence due to crop growth and metabolism in plant material, and loss due to food processing. Food processing steps included were cleaning, washing, storing, and cooking. Pesticide concentrations were measured periodically in soil and potato samples from the beginning of tuber formation until harvest. The model was able to predict the magnitude and temporal profile of the experimentally derived pesticide concentrations well, with all measurements falling within the 90% confidence interval. The fraction of chlorpyrifos applied on the field during plant cultivation that eventually is ingested by the consumer is on average 10(-4)-10(-7), depending on the time between pesticide application and ingestion and the processing step considered.