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Rahmani-Katigari M, Mohammadian F, Shahmoradi L. Development of a serious game-based cognitive rehabilitation system for patients with brain injury. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:893. [PMID: 38031072 PMCID: PMC10688007 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05396-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from a forceful impact to the head can cause severe functional disabilities, with cognitive impairment being a major hindrance to patients' return to daily life. Encouraging patients to engage in rehabilitation programs consistently poses a significant challenge for therapists. To address this issue, gamification has gained momentum as an effective approach. This study aims to develop a serious game-based cognitive rehabilitation system tailored for patients with brain injury. METHODS The study included four stages. Initially, the requirements were analyzed through focus groups. Then the system structure and game content were discussed and was agreed as a conceptual model. In second stage, the system design was drawn using various modeling diagrams. In third stage, a system prototype was developed using the Unity game engine and C# programming. Finally, a heuristic evaluation method was employed to assess usability. RESULTS Based on the focus group meetings with seven participants, a conceptual model of the system structure and game content was designed. Game's interface was developed for both the therapist and patient versions. The focus groups determined a 2D casual gaming genre with a postman character and 10 missions on the smartphone platform. For example, in the first mission, the postman must move from mailboxes 1 to 10 and pick up the letters. This is according to Trail Making Test task. The 16 tasks in different subcategories of attention were selected to make these missions. The usability evaluation highlighted privacy, help and documentation, and aesthetic and minimalist design as the areas with the highest percentage of problems. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive rehabilitation is vital in facilitating patients' faster return to daily routines and enhancing their quality-of-life following brain injury. Incorporating a game-based system provides patients with increased motivation to engage in various cognitive exercises. Additionally, continuous monitoring by specialists ensures effective patient management. The game-based system offers different game stages to strengthen and rehabilitate attention in patients with brain injury. In the next step, the clinical effects of this system will be evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meysam Rahmani-Katigari
- Department of Health Information Management, Saveh University of Medical Sciences, Saveh, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Mohammadian
- Department of Psychiatry, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Shahmoradi
- Department of Health Information Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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How TV, Green REA, Mihailidis A. Towards PPG-based anger detection for emotion regulation. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2023; 20:107. [PMID: 37582733 PMCID: PMC10426222 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-023-01217-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anger dyscontrol is a common issue after traumatic brain injury (TBI). With the growth of wearable physiological sensors, there is new potential to facilitate the rehabilitation of such anger in the context of daily life. This potential, however, depends on how well physiological markers can distinguish changing emotional states and for such markers to generalize to real-world settings. Our study explores how wearable photoplethysmography (PPG), one of the most widely available physiological sensors, could be used detect anger within a heterogeneous population. METHODS This study collected the TRIEP (Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Emotion-Physiology) dataset, which comprised of 32 individuals (10 TBI), exposed to a variety of elicitation material (film, pictures, self-statements, personal recall), over two day sessions. This complex dataset allowed for exploration into how the emotion-PPG relationship varied over changes in individuals, endogenous/exogenous drivers of emotion, and day-to-day differences. A multi-stage analysis was conducted looking at: (1) times-series visual clustering, (2) discriminative time-interval features of anger, and (3) out-of-sample anger classification. RESULTS Characteristics of PPG are largely dominated by inter-subject (between individuals) differences first, then intra-subject (day-to-day) changes, before differentiation into emotion. Both TBI and non-TBI individuals showed evidence of linear separable features that could differentiate anger from non-anger classes within time-interval analysis. However, what is more challenging is that these separable features for anger have various degrees of stability across individuals and days. CONCLUSION This work highlights how there are contextual, non-stationary challenges to the emotion-physiology relationship that must be accounted for before emotion regulation technology can perform in real-world scenarios. It also affirms the need for a larger breadth of emotional sampling when building classification models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuck-Voon How
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Robin E A Green
- KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alex Mihailidis
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Ownsworth T, Mitchell J, Griffin J, Bell R, Gibson E, Shirota C. Electronic Assistive Technology to Support Memory Function After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review of Efficacy and User Perspectives. J Neurotrauma 2023; 40:1533-1556. [PMID: 36792919 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2022.0434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract Rapid technology advances have led to diverse assistive technology (AT) options for use in memory rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury (TBI). This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of electronic AT for supporting phases of memory in daily life after TBI. A secondary aim was to examine user perspectives on the utility of AT and factors influencing uptake or use. A systematic search of PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Excerpta Medica database (Embase), Scopus, and Cochrane Library was conducted from database inception to June 13, 2022, to identify eligible studies. Methodological quality was assessed by two independent reviewers. Nineteen eligible articles involving a total of 311 participants included four randomized controlled trials (RCTs; Class I), five single-case experimental designs (Class II), and 10 pre-post group (n > 10) or single-case studies without experimental control (Class III). Three Class I studies, two Class II studies and eight Class III studies supported the efficacy of AT for supporting memory functioning. Treatment fidelity was not examined in any study. There was the most empirical support for the efficacy of AT for facilitating retrieval and execution phases of memory (i.e., supported by 6/9 studies) with external support to encode memory intentions or pre-programmed reminders. Further controlled studies are needed to determine whether outcomes vary according to individuals' level of independence with use (e.g., self-initiated vs. pre-programmed reminders) and to examine user characteristics and design features influencing uptake and effectiveness. Greater involvement of end-users with brain injury in the design and evaluation of AT features is also recommended to enhance usability and uptake in daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Ownsworth
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt. Gravatt, Queensland, Australia
- The Hopkins Centre, Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jessie Mitchell
- The Hopkins Centre, Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Janelle Griffin
- Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ryan Bell
- Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Emily Gibson
- Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Camila Shirota
- The Hopkins Centre, Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
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Comparing Advanced with Basic Telerehabilitation Technologies for Patients with Rett Syndrome-A Pilot Study on Behavioral Parameters. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19010507. [PMID: 35010767 PMCID: PMC8744542 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to compare the performances of patients with Rett syndrome that were undergoing advanced telerehabilitation (ATR) and patients that were undergoing basic telerehabilitation (BTR). It was hypothesized that patients that were undergoing ATR training would have better improvement in nearly all the motor and cognitive scale scoring activities that were administered, thus showing reduced disability. A total of 20 young girls and women with a diagnosis of RTT, ranging from age 4 to 31 years old (Median: 12.50; IQR: 9.50–17.25) underwent a pre-test, treatment post-test 1, treatment, and post-test 2 procedure. The treatment consisted of either ATR or BTR, lasting 10 weeks with three sessions a week of about an hour. The results showed that the group with advanced telerehabilitation improved their performance better than the control group only in some neuropsychological measurements. The results are discussed in the light of critical factors of telerehabilitation.
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Oestergaard CU, Spindler H, Dinesen B. Video and social rehabilitation of persons with mental illness helps to structure everyday life: a qualitative study. Mhealth 2022; 8:4. [PMID: 35178435 PMCID: PMC8800196 DOI: 10.21037/mhealth-21-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Living with a mental disorder has a significant impact on everyday life. In 2018, one out of every six adults, equivalent to 17.3% of the adult population of the European Union, had symptoms of mental disorders. This paper focus on social rehabilitation of patients with mental illness who have been discharged from hospital and who use video communication technologies in their rehabilitation in collaboration with their social worker. The aim of this study has been to explore the experiences of persons with mental illnesses who participated in a long-term video-based tele-social rehabilitation program, the Video Assist. METHODS The overall research strategy is the case study method. Data collection techniques are based on triangulation. Document analysis has been performed. Participant observation in homes of persons with mental using video with social workers (168 hours). Semi structured qualitative interviews with persons with mental illness (n=13) has been conducted lasting between 30 and 60 minutes. Data were analyzed using NVivo 10.0. RESULTS Experiences of persons with mental illness participating in the tele-social rehabilitation program are in themes: user friendly video technology, video created a new means of communication between citizen and social worker, feeling of surveillance by having the technology in the home, development of new coping strategies in everyday life and need for psychosocial support and training via the video technology. CONCLUSIONS Persons with mental illness who are in a recovery process find that participating in a tele-social-rehabilitation program gives them a sense of mobility, security, surveillance but the ability to develop new coping strategies in their everyday lives. Future research is needed on long-term effects of tele-social rehabilitation for persons with mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claus Ugilt Oestergaard
- Laboratory of Welfare Technologies - Telehealth & Telerehabilitation, Sports Sciences - Performance and Technology, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Helle Spindler
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Birthe Dinesen
- Laboratory of Welfare Technologies - Telehealth & Telerehabilitation, Sports Sciences - Performance and Technology, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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Alaimo C, Campana E, Stoppelli MR, Gobbi E, Baglio F, Rossetto F, Binetti G, Zanetti O, Manenti R, Cotelli M. Cognitive Tele-Enhancement in Healthy Older Adults and Subjects With Subjective Memory Complaints: A Review. Front Neurol 2021; 12:650553. [PMID: 34290660 PMCID: PMC8287022 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.650553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In recent years, emphasis has been placed on cognitive enhancement to stimulate cognitive abilities and prevent functional decline. Considering that traditional face-to-face interventions can be very expensive and are not accessible to all individuals, the need to transfer care from the clinic to the patient's home is evident. In this regard, cognitive tele-enhancement interventions have received increased attention. Aim: The aim of this review was to provide an overview of protocols that apply remotely controlled cognitive training with individualized feedback on performance by the therapist in healthy older adults or participants with subjective memory complaints. Methods: Out of 35 articles assessed for eligibility, eight studies were identified. Of the selected studies, five included cognitively healthy older adults, while three included participants with subjective memory complaints. Results: Most of the reviewed studies showed beneficial effects of cognitive tele-enhancement interventions, reporting improvements in memory, sustained attention, working memory, executive functions, and language abilities. Moreover, reductions in anxiety and depression symptomatology levels, as well as in subjective memory difficulties, were described in some of the studies. Conclusions: Cognitive tele-enhancement treatment could be a good alternative to face-to-face intervention. This literature review highlights the importance of applying preventive cognitive interventions to subjects with initial subjective memory complaints. Remote modalities seem to facilitate the application of such interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Alaimo
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elena Campana
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Rachele Stoppelli
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elena Gobbi
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | | | | | - Giuliano Binetti
- Macroattività Ambulatoriale Complessa (MAC) Memory Clinic and Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Orazio Zanetti
- Alzheimer's Research Unit, Macroattività Ambulatoriale Complessa (MAC) Memory Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Rosa Manenti
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Cotelli
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
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Abstract
Background: Design workshops offer effective methods in eliciting end-user participation from design inception to completion. Workshops unite stakeholders in the utilization of participatory methods, coalescing in the best possible creative solutions. Objective: This systematic review aimed to identify design approaches whilst providing guidance to health information technology designers/researchers in devising and organizing workshops. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in five medical/library databases identifying 568 articles. The initial duplication removal resulted in 562 articles. A criteria-based screening of the title field, abstracts, and pre-full-texts reviews resulted in 72 records for full-text review. The final review resulted in 10 article exclusions. Results: 62 publications were included in the review. These studies focused on consumer facing and clinical health information technologies. The studied technologies involved both clinician and patients and encompassed an array of health conditions. Diverse workshop activities and deliverables were reported. Only seven publications reported workshop evaluation data. Discussion: This systematic review focused on workshops as a design and research activity in the health informatics domain. Our review revealed three themes: (1) There are a variety of ways of conducting design workshops; (2) Workshops are effective design and research approaches; (3) Various levels of workshop details were reported.
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León-Domínguez U, Solís-Marcos I, López-Delgado CA, Martín JMBY, León-Carrión J. A Frontal Neuropsychological Profile in Fitness to Drive. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2020; 148:105807. [PMID: 33069156 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2020.105807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Traffic accidents are a global concern due to the elevated mortality rates of both drivers and pedestrians. The World Health Organization declared 2011-2020 as the Decade of Action for Road Safety, endorsing initiatives to reduce traffic-related deaths. Yet, despite these incentives, fatal accidents still occur. Different studies have linked deficits in executive functions to risky driving attitudes and crashes. The present study focuses on demographic, cognitive and personality factors, related to the prefrontal cortex, that are characteristic of drivers prone to risky behavior behind the wheel. The penalty Points System was used to classify drivers as "safe", with no point loss over a two-year period, or "risky", with full point loss during the same interval. A neuropsychological assessment of prefrontal cognitive functions was carried out on each group to identify variables associated with safe and risky behavior. Neuropsychological indexes were obtained from a continuous performance task without cue (Simple Attention), a continuous performance task with cue (Conditioned Attention), the Tower of Hanoi test and the Neurologically-related Changes in Personality Inventory (NECHAPI). A Discriminant Analysis (DA) found that education level, reaction times in Simple and Conditioned Attention, learning errors in the Tower of Hanoi and vulnerability in the personality test, best predicted whether drivers were likely to be in the safe or risky group. Finally, a cross-validation analysis performed on the same sample correctly classified 87.5% of the drivers. These data suggest that prefrontal dysfunction contributes to risky behavior behind the wheel. The inclusion of cognitive programs to identify and train drivers with this propensity could reduce risky driving, and consequently, save lives on the road.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umberto León-Domínguez
- Human Cognition and Brain Research lab, School of Psychology, University of Monterrey, San Pedro Garza, García, Mexico.
| | - Ignacio Solís-Marcos
- The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) Linköping, Sweden
| | | | | | - José León-Carrión
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain; Center for Brain Injury Rehabilitation (CRECER), Seville, Spain
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Hashem F, Stephensen D, Drechsler WI, Bladen M, Carroll L, Tracy P, Saloniki E. Muscle strengthening intervention for boys with haemophilia: Developing and evaluating a best-practice exercise programme with boys, families and health-care professionals. Health Expect 2020; 23:1350-1361. [PMID: 33405345 PMCID: PMC7696141 DOI: 10.1111/hex.13119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Muscle strengthening exercises have the potential to improve outcomes for boys with haemophilia, but it is unclear what types of exercise might be of benefit. We elicited the views of health-care professionals, boys and their families to create and assess a home-based muscle strengthening programme. OBJECTIVE To design and develop a muscle strengthening programme with health-care professionals aimed at improving musculoskeletal health, and refine the intervention by engaging boys with haemophilia and their families (Study 1). Following delivery, qualitatively evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the exercise programme with the boys and the study's physiotherapists (Study 2). DESIGN A person-based approach was used for planning and designing the exercise programme, and evaluating it post-delivery. The following methods were utilized: modified nominal group technique (NGT) with health-care professionals; focus group with families; exit interviews with boys; and interviews with the study's physiotherapists. RESULTS Themes identified to design and develop the intervention included exercises to lower limb and foot, dosage, age accommodating, location, supervision and monitoring and incentivization. Programme refinements were carried out following engagement with the boys and families who commented on: dosage, location, supervision and incentivization. Following delivery, the boys and physiotherapists commented on progression and adaptation, physiotherapist contact, goal-setting, creating routines and identifying suitable timeframes, and a repeated theme of incentivization. CONCLUSIONS An exercise intervention was designed and refined through engagement with boys and their families. Boys and physiotherapists involved in the intervention's delivery were consulted who found the exercises to be generally acceptable with some minor refinements necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferhana Hashem
- University of KentCentre for Health Service StudiesCanterburyUK
| | - David Stephensen
- East Kent Hospitals University NHS TrustHaemophilia and Thrombosis CentreCanterburyUK
- Royal London HospitalHaemophilia CentreLondonUK
| | - Wendy I. Drechsler
- Kings College LondonSchool of Population Health & Environmental SciencesLondonUK
| | - Melanie Bladen
- Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children NHS Foundation TrustHaemophilia CentreLondonUK
- Institute of Child HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | | | | | - Eirini‐Christina Saloniki
- University of KentCentre for Health Service StudiesCanterburyUK
- University of KentPersonal Social Services Research UnitCanterburyUK
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Maresca G, Maggio MG, De Luca R, Manuli A, Tonin P, Pignolo L, Calabrò RS. Tele-Neuro-Rehabilitation in Italy: State of the Art and Future Perspectives. Front Neurol 2020; 11:563375. [PMID: 33101176 PMCID: PMC7554582 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.563375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Current research suggests that the management of neurological diseases, both in adults and children, requires an ever increasing commitment of resources for the national healthcare system (NHS). In Italy, due to the aging of the population, increase in chronicity and morbidity of pathologies, and presence of islands and rural areas, health needs to be supported by innovative technologies. Telemedicine is a method of providing healthcare services at distance, remotely connecting health professionals and patients (or two professionals). In Italy, telemedicine is under development, and the NHS has not yet exploited and independently developed all the possibilities that telemedicine offers. Tele-rehabilitation consists in the use of information and communication technologies for the remote support of rehabilitation services. By allowing “home care,” it represents a valid support during the home rehabilitation process. This review is aimed at evaluating the role of telerehabilitation in Italy, with regard to the motor and cognitive rehabilitation programs applied to neurological pathologies, in both pediatric and adult patients. We screened the studies published between 2010 and 2019 on PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Sciences databases. Using the PICO model, the search combined the terms “telerehabilitation”; “neurological disorders”; “neurodegenerative disease,” “motor telerehabilitation”; “cognitive rehabilitation.” This review showed that telerehabilitation is a promising healthcare tool, as it guarantees continuity of care over time (after discharge) and in space (from hospital to patient's home), especially in patients with stroke. Furthermore, it allows to increase the frequency and intensity of rehabilitation programs, provide individualized rehabilitation treatment in comfortable and familiar environment for patient, monitor and evaluate patients' needs and progress, stimulate patient motivation and achieve better patient satisfaction, verify the results achieved by the patients, and potentially reduce the service costs. Unfortunately, almost all neurorehabilitation studies are characterized by small samples and wide variability of results, and would benefit from standardized procedures, aims and targets. Future telerehabilitation trials should include cost-effectiveness analysis associated with clinical outcomes to better assess the validity of this promising tool.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Paolo Tonin
- S. Anna Institute, Research in Advanced Neurorehabilitation, Crotone, Italy
| | - Loris Pignolo
- S. Anna Institute, Research in Advanced Neurorehabilitation, Crotone, Italy
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Vandekerckhove P, de Mul M, Bramer WM, de Bont AA. Generative Participatory Design Methodology to Develop Electronic Health Interventions: Systematic Literature Review. J Med Internet Res 2020; 22:e13780. [PMID: 32338617 PMCID: PMC7215492 DOI: 10.2196/13780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Generative participatory design (PD) may help in developing electronic health (eHealth) interventions. PD is characterized by the involvement of all stakeholders in creative activities. This is different from the traditional user-centered design, where users are less involved. When looking at PD from a research through design perspective, it is important to summarize the reasons for choosing a certain form of generative PD to further develop its methodology. However, the scientific literature is currently unclear about which forms of PD are used to develop eHealth and which arguments are used to substantiate the decision to use a certain form of generative PD. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the reporting and substantiation of generative PD methodologies in empirical eHealth studies published in scientific journals to further develop PD methodology in the field of eHealth. METHODS A systematic literature review following the Cochrane guidelines was conducted in several databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE Ovid, Web of Science, and CINAHL EBSCOhost). Data were extracted on the recruitment and management of stakeholders, the use of tools, and the use of outcome measures. RESULTS Of the 3131 studies initially identified, 69 were selected for qualitative synthesis. The reporting was very variable, depending to a large extent on whether the study stated that reporting on the PD process was a major aim. The different levels of reporting and substantiation of the choices of a recruitment strategy, stakeholder management, and tools and outcome measures are presented. Only a few authors explicitly used arguments directly related to PD guiding principles such as democratic, mutual learning, tacit and latent knowledge, and collective creativity. Even though PD principles were not always explicitly discussed in the method descriptions of the studies, they were implicitly present, mostly in the descriptions of the use of PD tools. The arguments used to substantiate the choices made in stakeholder management, PD tools, and the type of outcome measures adopted point to the involvement of PD principles. CONCLUSIONS Studies that have used a PD research methodology to develop eHealth primarily substantiate the choice of tools made and much less the use of stakeholders and outcome measures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marleen de Mul
- Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Wichor M Bramer
- Medical Library Erasmus MC, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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12
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Slevin P, Kessie T, Cullen J, Butler MW, Donnelly SC, Caulfield B. Exploring the barriers and facilitators for the use of digital health technologies for the management of COPD: a qualitative study of clinician perceptions. QJM 2020; 113:163-172. [PMID: 31545374 DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcz241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Digital health technology (DHT) promises to support patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) to optimize the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there is a lack of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of DHT for the management of COPD. One reason for this is the lack of user-involvement in the development of DHT interventions in COPD meaning their needs and preferences are rarely accounted for in the design phase. Although HCP adoption issues have been identified in relation to DHT, little is known about the challenges perceived by HCPs providing care to COPD patients. Therefore, this study aims to qualitatively explore the barriers and facilitators HCPs perceive for the use of DHT in the management of COPD. METHODS Participants (n = 32) were recruited using snowball sampling from two university hospitals and several general practitioner clinics. A semi-structured interview was conducted with each participant. NVivo 12 software was used to complete thematic analysis on the data. RESULTS Themes identified include: data quality; evidence-based care; resource constraints; and digital literacy presented as barriers; and facilitators include the following themes: digital health training and education; improving HCP digital literacy; and Personalized prescribing. Patient-centered approaches, such as pulmonary rehabilitation and shared decision-making were suggested as implementation strategies to ease the adoption of digital health for the management of COPD. CONCLUSION These findings contribute new insights about the needs and preferences of HCPs working in COPD regarding DHT. The findings can be used to help mitigate user-experience issues by informing the design of person-centered implementation and adoption strategies for future digital health interventions in COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Slevin
- From the The Insight Centre for Data Analytics, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - T Kessie
- From the The Insight Centre for Data Analytics, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - J Cullen
- Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - M W Butler
- University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - S C Donnelly
- Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - B Caulfield
- From the The Insight Centre for Data Analytics, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Remote Technology-Based Training Programs for Children with Acquired Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analytic Exploration. Behav Neurol 2019; 2019:1346987. [PMID: 31467613 PMCID: PMC6701292 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1346987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Multidisciplinary rehabilitation interventions are considered to be a need for children with acquired brain injury (ABI), in order to remediate the important sequelae and promote adjustment. Technology-based treatments represent a promising field inside the rehabilitation area, as they allow delivering interventions in ecological settings and creating amusing exercises that may favor engagement. In this work, we present an overview of remote technology-based training programs (TP) addressing cognitive and behavioral issues delivered to children with ABI and complement it with the results of a meta-analytic exploration. Evidence Acquisition We performed the review process between January and February 2019. 32 studies were included in the review, of which 14 were further selected to be included in the meta-analysis on TP efficacy. Evidence Synthesis Based on the review process, the majority of TP addressing cognitive issues and all TP focusing on behavioral issues were found to be effective. Two meta-analytic models examining the means of either cognitive TP outcomes or behavioral TP outcomes as input outcome yielded a nonsignificant effect size for cognitive TP and a low-moderate effect size for behavioral TP. Additional models on outcomes reflecting the greatest beneficial effects of TP yielded significant moderate effect sizes for both types of TP. Nevertheless, consistent methodological heterogeneity was observed, pointing to cautious interpretation of findings. A subgroup analysis on visuospatial skill outcomes showed a smaller yet significant effect size of cognitive TP, with low heterogeneity, providing a more reliable estimation of overall cognitive TP effects. Conclusions Promising results on remote cognitive and behavioral TP efficacy emerged both at the review process and at the meta-analytic investigation. Nevertheless, the high heterogeneity that emerged across studies prevents us from drawing definite conclusions. Further research is needed to identify whether specific training characteristics and population subgroups are more likely to be associated with greater training efficacy.
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Corti C, Poggi G, Romaniello R, Strazzer S, Urgesi C, Borgatti R, Bardoni A. Feasibility of a home-based computerized cognitive training for pediatric patients with congenital or acquired brain damage: An explorative study. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199001. [PMID: 29924823 PMCID: PMC6010294 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Pediatric brain damage is associated with various cognitive deficits. Cognitive rehabilitation may prevent and reduce cognitive impairment. In recent years, home-based computerized cognitive training (CCT) has been introduced in clinical practice to increase treatment opportunities for patients (telerehabilitation). However, limited research has been conducted thus far on investigating the effects of remote CCT for the juvenile population in contexts other than English-speaking countries. The aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility of a home-based CCT in a group of Italian adolescents with brain damage. A commercially available CCT (Lumosity) developed in the English language was used due to the lack of telerehabilitation programs in the Italian language that allow stimulation of multiple cognitive domains and, at the same time, remote automatic collection of data. Thus, this investigation provides information on the possibility of introducing CCT programs available in foreign languages in countries with limited investment in the telerehabilitation field. Methods 32 adolescents aged 11–16 with a diagnosis of congenital or acquired (either traumatic or non-traumatic) brain damage participated in the study. They received 40 training sessions (5 days/week for 8 weeks). Before starting the training program, they received face-to-face demonstration of training exercises and written instructions in their mother tongue. The feasibility of both training and study design and procedures was assessed through 9 criteria taken from extant literature. Results All 9 feasibility criteria were met. 31 out of the 32 participants demonstrated adherence to the training program. 94.2% of training sessions were completed in the recommended timeframe. No significant technical issue was found. Conclusions Telerehabilitation seems to be a feasible practice for adolescents with brain damage. A training program developed in a foreign language can be used to counter the unavailability of programs in patients’ mother tongue. Trial registration The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry with study ID ISRCTN59250807
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Corti
- Neuro-oncological and Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Geraldina Poggi
- Neuro-oncological and Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Romina Romaniello
- Neuropsychiatry and Neurorehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Sandra Strazzer
- Acquired Brain Injury Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Cosimo Urgesi
- Neuropsychiatry and Neurorehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Renato Borgatti
- Neuropsychiatry and Neurorehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bardoni
- Neuro-oncological and Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
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