Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology最新文献

Purpose: The relationship between a patient and their therapist plays a crucial role in patient engagement. While Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) may assist in preserving cognitive skills in cases of aging, dementia or acquired brain injuries, its effectiveness has not been definitively proven. Improving user engagement, acceptance, and software usability could aid in addressing this issue. The present study aims to identify potential obstacles and facilitators by examining the perspectives of rehabilitation professionals on the current usage of CCT software.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 rehabilitation professionals, familiar with a CCT software. The data were transcribed and followed by an independent iterative thematic analysis.

Results: Two major themes were identified: (1) facilitating factors and (2) difficulties related to use. The main obstacles were difficulties related to the computerized nature of the exercises, technology use, understanding the software and general learning difficulties. The main facilitators were the ecological and novel nature of the exercises, and the adaptability of the difficulty levels.

Conclusion: The complexity of the CCT presents challenges for its usage by rehabilitation professionals, which in turn can impede patient utilization as well. To address this issue and promote sustainable use of the software, providing instruction delivery to facilitate learning and understanding of the CCT is essential. Additionally, creating a standardized foundation that therapists can refer to for guidance may also aid in optimizing the software's usage. It is recommended to utilize a model for CCT acceptability and acceptance in developing these solutions to enhance patient engagement.

This article delves into Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron" to examine the profound implications of assistive technologies within the context of normativity. While Vonnegut's narrative unfolds in a dystopian future where "desistive devices" are used to enforce equality, Vonnegut's insights subtly underscore the intricate facets of othered-being that challenge the normativity of assistive technologies. Drawing from the insights of crip studies, this examination argues that assistive technologies often perpetuate and idealize normative bodymind ideals, presenting a consistent framing of the normative human. Through a discourse analysis, this study demonstrates how assistive technologies, despite their variability in individual experiences, embody a normative rationality of human, mindbody existence. These technologies, rather than accommodating diversity, tend to impose a particular standard of "normalcy." In conclusion, the analysis proposes a departure from this normative trajectory. It advocates for a future direction in assistive technologies that fosters and embraces "aberrant-being." By challenging established norms and persistently questioning the constructs of normativity, assistive technologies can evolve to engage with aberrant-being and enliven cripped-embodiment. This exploration paves the way for a more inclusive and diverse future in assistive technology, where human differences are cherished rather than subdued.

Purpose: Steering a wheelchair while navigating through manual doors or against obstacles is challenging for some users. Previously, a low-cost, low-tech accessory made using off-the-shelf components, conventional manufacturing, and 3D-printed fasteners demonstrated the proof-of-concept for uncrossable positive obstacle pushing or gliding. Current work presents the fabrication and testing of an entirely 3D-printed prototype of the accessory.

Methods: The accessory was 3D-printed using ABS (10% fill density) in sections. A finite element stress analysis simulation was performed for the entire accessory. Prototype tests were done with the accessory installed on an unoccupied powered wheelchair against a door and an obstacle with ∼25 N and ∼50 N resistance forces, respectively.

Results: The maximum stresses in none of the crucial components exceeded the break strength of ABS. Test results demonstrate the ability and mechanical robustness of the fully 3D-printed accessory to push open manual doors, allowing easy navigation through doors, and to push or glide against obstacles. The current prototype improves over the previous prototype in terms of manufacturability, weight, design, and safety.

Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an entirely 3D-printed wheelchair accessory that pushes or glides against uncrossable positive obstacles. Future studies would involve end-user satisfaction assessment and functionality evaluation in different scenarios under clinical supervision. The pushing or gliding ability of the accessory could be beneficial to wheelchair users with neuromuscular disorders or paraplegia.

Artificial intelligence (AI) driven solutions have the potential to significantly impact individuals with disabilities by providing assistance in their daily activities and facilitating the acquisition of new abilities. The utilisation of AI technology in assisting individuals with disabilities has novel prospects for enhancing accessibility, fostering inclusivity throughout society, and enabling autonomous living, which would otherwise pose considerable challenges or remain unattainable. As the field of AI continues to progress, it holds the potential to facilitate the development of increasingly sophisticated and groundbreaking approaches to tackle the multifaceted obstacles encountered by individuals with disabilities. Consequently, AI has the capacity to foster greater inclusivity for this population.

Purpose: We determined over-the-counter magnifier usage rates by patients who newly presented for vision rehabilitation services, and sought to elucidate whether patients' ratings of over-the-counter magnifiers were associated with vision rehabilitation management strategies.

Methods: Retrospective records reviews of 274 new vision rehabilitation patients seen between 2021-2023 were completed by three optometric providers at an ophthalmic academic center, college of optometry, and private practice.

Results: Over half (58%) of patients tried an over-the-counter magnifier. Older age was significantly associated with trying over-the-counter magnifiers (OR:1.04; p < 0.001). Patients who tried an over-the-counter magnifier had significantly greater odds of the provider recommending and/or dispensing a prescribed hand-held optical illuminated magnifier (P< =0.04) or recommending a CCTV electronic magnifier (p = 0.049). The majority indicated over-the-counter magnifiers were somewhat (46%) or not helpful (38%). There was a significantly greater odds of rating the over-the-counter magnifier as not helpful when the provider subsequently recommended a CCTV (OR:4.8; p = 0.01) or higher spectacle-based near add power (OR: 2.0; p = 0.02).

Conclusions: Since most new patients were unsatisfied with over-the-counter magnifiers, it is encouraging that previous over-the-counter magnifier use often led to upgrades with hand-held optical illuminated magnifiers prescribed by vision rehabilitation providers, or patients were transitioned to CCTV electronic magnifiers or spectacle-based high add powers for near reading. These findings support that older adults who have previously experienced that over-the-counter magnifiers were either helpful or unhelpful are ideal candidates to receive vision rehabilitation by optometric providers who can transition them to a prescribed magnification device to better support their visual functioning needs for near reading.

Assistive technology (AT) provides persons with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) ability to engage in daily activities, however acquiring AT can be challenging. Understanding current state of knowledge about perspectives and use of AT by PwMS may support critical thinking about AT acquisition process. The aim of this scoping review was to map what is known about AT use by PwMS, to identify gaps in knowledge to guide future research and practice for AT matching. A scoping review of qualitative research on perspectives and use of AT by PwMS searched four databases (Medline, CINAHL, PsychNet, and Engineering Village). Papers included focused on non-institutional settings, addressed participant's feelings/perceptions/experiences, and were in English. Initial search October 2021, updated 2022 and 2023. Two reviewers conducted screening, review, and extraction, with a third resolving disagreements. Data extraction guided by the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement, categorised AT use by productivity, self-care, and/or leisure occupations. Covidence^® was used for extraction. Findings were exported into a spreadsheet to facilitate thematic analysis. Search identified 22 peer-reviewed journals and 11 consumer publications (n = 33). Most common AT was mobility devices. Primary purposes were self-care and leisure. Common use included functional mobility, transportation, personal care, household management, recreation, and socialisation. Perceptions focused on AT need, adjusting to AT, influencing factors, performance and engagement improvements, and seeking acquisition advice. Lack of research on experiences and use of AT beyond mobility equipment, and for engagement of daily activities. Evidence provides some insights for future directions and implications to support AT acquisition for PwMS.

Robotic technology-aided instruction and interventions have been designed to support both Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) interventions for children with ASD. However, to the best of our knowledge, this field has not been systematically reviewed. Thus, we aimed to systematically review the literature to determine whether ABA or PRT methods in a robotic therapeutic context yield better outcomes for individuals with ASD, specifically in terms of approaching and accepting robots. A comprehensive search of electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar was conducted. Randomized control trials (RCT) and pre-post-test design investigations that assessed the impact of ABA vs. PRT approach via robot-mediated technology vs. human trainers on intervention outcomes of children with ASD were selected and included in this systematic review. Finally, 13 papers met the criteria for inclusion in the systematic review. Two independent reviewers extracted the associated data from each selected study according to the standardized data extraction form. Two reviewers also assessed the quality of each study independently using the Cochrane Back Review Scale and JBI tool for quasi-experimental studies. We categorized two general classifications of findings including ABA vs. PRT as well as robotic technology vs. human. In conclusion, the existing investigations on the effect of robotic assistive technology using ABA or PRT approach are promising particularly in therapeutic contexts with a more natural context and social flavor.

Aim: Adapted paddleboard provides an outdoor leisure-time physical activities (LTPA) opportunity with many health benefits (e.g., physical activity, reduced stress, social engagement). However, nearly 50% of individuals with disabilities do not participate in any LTPA. Quality of LTPA participation influences sustainable adherence, while optimizing participant experiences. An adapted paddleboard program is offered in Quebec City, for adults with physical disabilities, but little is known about how participants perceive their quality of participation. This study aimed to describe individuals with disabilities' perceived quality of participation in the adapted paddleboard program, and to explore their suggestions of strategies to support meaningful engagement in the program.

Methods: An ethnographic mixed-methods design was conducted, consisting of participant observations during the 13-week program and semi-structured interviews based on the Quality Parasport Participation Framework (QPPF). Measure of Experiential Aspects of Participation (MeEAP) questionnaire were collected. A mixed approach of data analysis was used for qualitative data and descriptive statistics were conducted for quantitative data.

Results: Nine participants (8F) with various disabilities (42±15 years old) participated in the study. Emergent dimensions of quality of participation included belongingness and autonomy. Facilitators to participation were identified, such as autonomy support through volunteers and provision of adaptive equipment. Barriers to participation included water access and level of individual challenge. Suggested strategies to improve engagement included water access closer to parking and multiple groups for variable skill levels.

Conclusions: Participants expressed high-quality of participation in adapted paddleboarding. The study allows the development of knowledge about conditions that enhance the experience of participating in outdoor LTPA.

The surplus of used disability equipment contributing to waste in the UK and the lack of access to disability equipment in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are two issues in need of solution. To address such problems, UK charities refurbish and redistribute used disability equipment to LMICs. To date, there is a scarcity of data on how LMICs could access surplus disability equipment from UK organisations. This study aimed to collate and map out the process by which equipment is refurbished and redistributed from the UK to LMIC's and identify factors which influence the development and sustainability of the partnership. An explorative qualitative case study design was used. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from sender (UK) and a receiver (Romania) organisation between January-February 2022, with real-time translation where necessary. Intelligent verbatim transcription was used, and data was analysed using latent thematic analysis. The process of collection, refurbishment and redistribution of disability equipment from the UK to a LMIC organisation was mapped. Three key themes were identified from the interviews: (1) Development out of need; (2) Service development requires an adequate working relationship; (3) Process consolidation and future. Strong, honest and transparent relationships between organisations was identified as underpinning the success of the initiative. Raising service provision standards to meet specific needs of LMIC organisations supports development of suitable equipment prescription. Development of similar partnerships has potential of reducing the inequity gap and waste. Global collaboration and planning are required to address challenges of access to disability equipment in LMICs.