Assistive Technology最新文献

For individuals with disabilities, failure to use prescribed assistive technology devices (ATDs) according to professional recommendations can have detrimental health consequences. The literature has employed various terms to describe this phenomenon such as nonuse, abandonment, and non-adherence to characterize this behavior, lacking clear and standardized definitions. Consistent use of a standardized language is critical for advancing research in this area. This study aims to identify and describe the concepts related to the failure to use prescribed ATDs, along with the associated contexts, and proposes a framework for standardizing terminology in this domain. A narrative literature review encompassing studies from inception to June 2023 was conducted to elucidate these concepts. Out of 1029 initially identified articles, 27 were retained for in-depth analysis. The review unveiled a significant inconsistency in the use of terms like nonuse, abandonment, noncompliance, and non-adherence. Some articles even employed these terms interchangeably without clear definitions. Only 10 of the 27 reviewed articles provided definitions for the terminology they used. This highlights the crucial need for adopting valid conceptual models to select appropriate terms. Researchers are strongly encouraged to furnish operational definitions aligned with theoretical models and relevant to their research context to advance this field consistently.

A descriptive qualitative study was conducted to learn manufacturer perceptions of the barriers and facilitators of designing and producing accessible fitness equipment. Eight participants familiar with the ASTM International (formally the American Society for Testing and Materials) Universal Design of Fitness Equipment standards were interviewed via a virtual platform. Audio recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and independently coded by two investigators using thematic analysis. Two primary themes emerged from the data, 1) Challenges and 2) Tipping the Scale. Challenges included a humanitarian versus a business model view, application of the ASTM International standards, lack of a market analysis, and safety and liability. Facilitators deemed appropriate to tip the scale include consideration of a carrot (reward) versus a stick (punitive measures), availability of a market analysis, ASTM International standard modifications and enlisting activism for cultural change and development of laws and policies to mandate inclusion of accessible fitness space and equipment. Legislative action appears to be a primary facilitator to increase the design, development, and availability of accessible equipment in fitness centers.

The increasing population of wheelchair users in the United States highlights the importance of access to reliable and affordable wheelchair maintenance and repair. Having a well-maintained mobility device is essential to living a safe, healthy, and social life as a wheelchair user. Unfortunately, access to these services is limited. This study aims to address this need by developing and evaluating a workshop program designed to teach basic wheelchair maintenance skills to bike shop employees, allied health professionals, and wheelchair users themselves. The workshops covered key wheelchair maintenance tasks. Pre and post workshop surveys assessed participants' confidence in basic maintenance and repair skills and overall satisfaction with the workshop. Workshop participants reported increased confidence in all maintenance skills following the workshops and bike shop employees expressed increased confidence in their ability to work with and provide resources for wheelchair users. This study highlights that community-based workshops may help to enhance confidence in wheelchair maintenance skills, potentially aiding in bridging the gap in affordable and accessible repair services. The Wheeled Repair Alliance has the potential to empower wheelchair users and improve their quality of life. Further research should consider increasing the precision of measurements and assessing long-term outcomes related to wheelchair maintenance and repair.

This study aimed to investigate how width affects the design evaluation of sliding boards with a new shape. Ten caregivers at a senior facility evaluated five types of boards every two weeks. The new shape board received high ratings as the width increased, with a SUS (System Usability Scale) score of 68.5 points (95% CI 60.6-76.4). Compared to the traditional rectangular board, which had a width of 250 mm and a thickness of 5 mm, the new shape board (with a central width of 163 mm and a thickness of 8 mm) received higher ratings by 0.68 points (95% CI 0.31-1.05)using a paired comparison method. The results of a quantitative study on the usability of sliding boards from the perspective of caregivers indicated that for similar board shapes with a length of 650 mm and a thickness of 8 mm, the evaluation increases as the width increases in the range of 130 mm to 163 mm at the center.

The aim of this scoping review was to gather, summarize, and map the knowledge of peoples' experiences on humanoid robots, capable of assisting people with activities of daily living. The review was guided by the framework of Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR. We found 44 papers describing nine robots that could assist with a variety of tasks listed in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. The mixed population experienced little or no anxiety toward the robots, and most accepted the robots' ability to monitor for safety reasons. Some participants disliked the robots' large size and slow movements. Most of the participants found the robots easy to use. They wanted improvements in the robots' functionality and the ability to personalize services. Several of the participants found the services interesting and useful, but not for themselves. The experiences of humanoid robotic assistance showed an insufficient level of technical readiness for assisting in physical assistance, a lack of personalization and readiness for use in home settings. The practical relevance of these findings lies in guiding future research and development toward a more individualized approach focusing on user needs and experiences to enhance the efficacy and integration of humanoid robots in health-care.

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in older adults. Walkers are often used by and prescribed to this population to reduce fall risk, however, walker users and walker non-users alike experience similar fall incidence rates. The role of walkers in preventing falls is unclear as some studies suggest walkers may be a fall-inciting factor. The purpose of this study was to analyze walker deficits by evaluating the circumstances and causes of falls in older adult walker users residing in long-term care facilities. Videos capturing 34 real-life falls involving wheeled walkers (rollators and two-wheeled walkers) in two retirement facilities were analyzed for 3 themes: walker type, fall direction, and activity at the time of fall. A frequency analysis of these themes was performed to determine common fall mechanisms. The results of this study suggest two-wheeled walker and rollator users most often fall sideways while turning and backward during weight transfer, respectively. Poor maneuverability, lateral stability, and wheel velocity control of the walkers contributed to the falls. Device improvements addressing these areas of deficiency may be necessary to mitigate falls occurring in older adult walker users.

Mobility impairments and participation restrictions are common occurrences post-stroke, which may necessitate the need to utilize Assistive Technology (AT). This study investigated the prevalence, pattern, and satisfaction with AT utilization in stroke survivors (SS). The study was conducted in two hospitals in Kano, Nigeria. The QUBEC user evaluation of satisfaction with AT (QUEST) questionnaire and the Rivermead Mobility Index were used to assess satisfaction with AT utilization and mobility, respectively. Pearson correlation and independent t-test were used to determine the relationship and gender difference among the outcomes, respectively. A total of 280 SS participated; however, only 115 (41.07%) were AT users. The commonly used AT was wheelchair 84 (73%), while the least used was walking frame 3 (2.6%). About two-thirds of the participants were quite or very satisfied with their ATs. The duration of AT utilization is positively related to stroke duration (r = 0.940) but negatively related to mobility level (r = -0.246). There is no significant gender difference in duration and satisfaction with AT utilization. AT like wheelchairs seems uncommonly utilized among SS in Kano, Nigeria, likely due to patients' lack of knowledge of use, economic factors, and culture among others.

Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in the United States, leaving survivors with profound mobility challenges that impact independent community ambulation. Evidence shows assistance at the hip during walking may be beneficial for stroke survivors. In this cross-over design study, we examine the impact of a novel hip exoskeleton on both functional and patient reported outcomes measuring speed, fall risk, gait symmetry, energy expenditure and perceived walking ability during both indoors and outdoors in single and serial counting dual task paradigms. Nine ambulatory stroke survivors with hemiplegia were included. No differences were seen between the exoskeleton and baseline conditions for any outcomes. Only the patient reported outcome in which subjects were asked to rate their ability to walk outdoors approached statistical significance (p = 0.051) with greater improvement reported for the exoskeleton condition. When asked to rate several key factors about the exoskeleton, weight and assistance emerged as primary perceived negative factors of the exoskeleton underscoring the need for improvements to the technology in this area. Despite lack of differences across groups, some individuals responded positively to the exoskeleton for several functional outcomes measured, highlighting the need for additional exploration into the use of personalized hip exoskeletons for post-stroke rehabilitation.

People with severe intellectual disabilities (ID) could have difficulty expressing their stress which may complicate timely responses from caregivers. The present study proposes an automatic stress detection system that can work in real-time. The system uses wearable sensors that record physiological signals in combination with machine learning to detect physiological changes related to stress. Four experiments were conducted to assess if the system could detect stress in people with and without ID. Three experiments were conducted with people without ID (n = 14, n = 18, and n = 48), and one observational study was done with people with ID (n = 12). To analyze if the system could detect stress, the performance of random, general, and personalized models was evaluated. The mixed ANOVA found a significant effect for model type, F(2, 134) = 116.50, p < .001. Additionally, the post-hoc t-tests found that the personalized model for the group with ID performed better than the random model, t(11) = 9.05, p < .001. The findings suggest that the personalized model can detect stress in people with and without ID. A larger-scale study is required to validate the system for people with ID.