Creating Conversations: Innovation through a Digital Healthcare Scenario Tool

Globally, healthcare systems are challenged by ageing populations, growing costs, and poorly designed policies. To promote discussion on these issues, the Danish Design Center created four physical scenarios to show what the healthcare system may look like anno 2050. Following an existing game development process, this project translated the physical scenarios to a virtual format to reach a larger audience. While developing the final prototype, we created five principles to dictate the best implementation of game design techniques. The final video game prototype acted as a proof of concept, on which the Danish Design Center may determine the effectiveness of creating virtual scenarios

Piloting mobile mixed reality simulation in paramedic distance education

New pedagogical methods delivered through mobile mixed reality (via a user-supplied mobile phone incorporating 3d printing and augmented reality) are becoming possible in distance education, shifting pedagogy from 2D images, words and videos to interactive simulations and immersive mobile skill training environments. This paper presents insights from the implementation and testing of a mobile mixed reality intervention in an Australian distance paramedic science classroom. The context of this mobile simulation study is skills acquisition in airways management focusing on direct laryngoscopy with foreign body removal. The intervention aims to assist distance education learners in practicing skills prior to attending mandatory residential schools and helps build a baseline equality between those students that study face to face and those at a distance. Outcomes from the pilot study showed improvements in several key performance indicators in the distance learners, but also demonstrated problems to overcome in the pedagogical method

Wearable Computing for Health and Fitness: Exploring the Relationship between Data and Human Behaviour

Health and fitness wearable technology has recently advanced, making it easier for an individual to monitor their behaviours. Previously self generated data interacts with the user to motivate positive behaviour change, but issues arise when relating this to long term mention of wearable devices. Previous studies within this area are discussed. We also consider a new approach where data is used to support instead of motivate, through monitoring and logging to encourage reflection. Based on issues highlighted, we then make recommendations on the direction in which future work could be most beneficial

Qualitative study of loneliness in a senior housing community: the importance of wisdom and other coping strategies.

ObjectiveOlder adults are at a high risk for loneliness, which impacts their health, well-being, and longevity. While related to social isolation, loneliness is a distinct, internally experienced, distressing feeling. The present qualitative study sought to identify characteristics of loneliness in older adults living independently within a senior housing community, which is typically designed to reduce social isolation.MethodSemi-structured qualitative interviews regarding the experience of loneliness, risk factors, and ways to combat it were conducted with 30 older adults, ages 65-92 years. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and coded using a grounded theory analytic approach based on coding, consensus, co-occurrence, and comparison.ResultsThree main themes with multiple subthemes are described: (A) Risk and Protective factors for loneliness: age-associated losses, lack of social skills or abilities, and protective personality traits; (B) Experience of loneliness: Sadness and lack of meaning as well as Lack of motivation; and (C) Coping strategies to prevent or overcome loneliness: acceptance of aging, compassion, seeking companionship, and environment enables socialization.DiscussionDespite living within a communal setting designed to reduce social isolation, many older adults described feeling lonely in stark negative terms, attributing it to aging-associated losses or lack of social skills and abilities. However, interviewees also reported positive personal qualities and actions to prevent or cope with loneliness, several of which mirrored specific components of wisdom. The results support the reported inverse relationship between loneliness and wisdom and suggest a potential role for wisdom-enhancing interventions to reduce and prevent loneliness in older populations

Ludic Learning Lab: Serious Games for Nurses. Theatre Training Reimagined

Theatre improvisation supports the development of interpersonal skills, building verbal and physical imagination, whilst enabling compassionate interaction between people to enhance connections. Improvisation is emerging in health care as a pedagogical tool that can enhance human to human connections such as the interaction between a nurse and patient enabling experiential learning. This thesis argues that the ludic nature of improvisation exercises stimulates enhanced interaction skills (Toivanen, 2011). The ancient body-mind practices that improvisation draws on offer valuable skills to the learner, contributing to the andragogy of nurse practice and pre-registration education and training. Nurses require unique cognitive capabilities to multi-task, problem-solve and prioritise urgent needs in a fast-paced hospital environment. Human factors such as communication and situational awareness are essential to maintaining high-level patient care across a challenging environment (Eisenhardt, 2021). The World Health Organisation (WHO, 2019) and The Australian Commission for Quality and Safety in Health Care (Report The State of Patient Safety and Quality in Australian Hospitals, 2019; Fotis, 2010) found that deficiencies in human factor skills in hospital settings are affecting patient safety; fifty per cent of adverse events are preventable. Communicating for safety in training is a number one priority to reduce preventable adverse events. This thesis explores the principles and theories of theatrical improvisation through engaging with the work of Viola Spolin, Rudolph Laban, Augusto Boal, Jacob L Moreno, David Kolb and Howard Gardner. It comprises both a theoretical/critical component and a creative component which is a digital toolkit, the Improv-e-toolkit designed to be used in blended delivery, face-to-face and digital mode. The Improv-e-toolkit is a prototype that aims to unite important clinical nursing skills such as situational awareness, decision making and relationship management. I argue, drawing on the work of Hager (2004) that improvisation training develops team-based trust and effective communication to support positive nurse-patient connections which deliver favourable patient outcomes

Digital Twin for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a system for patient engagement

This chapter focuses on the context in which patients such as those with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) are placed and what possibilities information and communication technologies (ICTs) offer to keep them in touch with the world to reach Society 5.0. In particular, the authors intend to show how the healthcare sector can use digital twin (DT) through elements of augmented virtuality (AR) and building information modelling (BIM) to create interactive interfaces that can solve, in part, problems involving frail patients but at the same time allowing their monitoring. Interconnection is possible through a gamification approach. In addition, a solution that considers the user (patient) involvement and that aims at its increase through interaction with alternative places to their home so as to stimulate them to keep an active mind and the degree of fun in a limiting condition is proposed

Utilizing games in the co-production of mental health services

This study analyses the application of a co-production approach in utilizing digital games and game-related methods in mental health services. The goal is to offer a real-world experiment on co-production, focusing on mental health service users, active gamers and mental health practitioners who worked together in equal ways and valued each other’s unique contributions during the experiment. The implications of a co-production approach for applying digital games in the field of mental healthcare are somewhat limited and under-explored. In this case study, seven workshop sessions were held involving service users, gamers and professionals. Participants were interviewed concerning their experiences with the activities and content of the co-production workshops. Thematic analysis of the participants’ experiences and perceptions resulted in three main themes: 1) empowering participation; 2) cooperation on a level playing field; and 3) improving self-efficacy. The experiment showed that applying a co-production approach in utilizing digital games is worth implementing in mental health services, particularly when putting novel nursing approaches and procedures into practice. Overall, co-production turned out to be a beneficial approach to introduce and implement game activities into mental healthcare; therefore, it can be taken one step further, meaning that service users’ experiences are truly valued, and they can play a crucial role in developing mental health services.This study analyses the application of a co-production approach in utilizing digital games and game-related methods in mental health services. The goal is to offer a real-world experiment on co-production, focusing on mental health service users, active gamers and mental health practitioners who worked together in equal ways and valued each other’s unique contributions during the experiment. The implications of a co-production approach for applying digital games in the field of mental healthcare are somewhat limited and under-explored. In this case study, seven workshop sessions were held involving service users, gamers and professionals. Participants were interviewed concerning their experiences with the activities and content of the co-production workshops. Thematic analysis of the participants’ experiences and perceptions resulted in three main themes: 1) empowering participation; 2) cooperation on a level playing field; and 3) improving self-efficacy. The experiment showed that applying a co-production approach in utilizing digital games is worth implementing in mental health services, particularly when putting novel nursing approaches and procedures into practice. Overall, co-production turned out to be a beneficial approach to introduce and implement game activities into mental healthcare; therefore, it can be taken one step further, meaning that service users’ experiences are truly valued, and they can play a crucial role in developing mental health services

Proceedings of Designing Self-care for Everyday Life. Workshop in conjunction with NordiCHI 2014, 27th October.

Managing chronic conditions can be challenging. People in such conditions, and the people around them, have to, for example: deal with symptoms, adapt to the resulting disability, manage emotions, and change habits to keep the condition under control. Self-care technologies have the potential to support self-care, however they often disregard the complexity of the settings in which they are used and fail to become integrated in everyday life.The present collection of papers forms the Proceedings of the Workshop “Designing Selfcare for Everyday Life” conducted last October 27th, 2014 in Helsinki, where 14 participants from 7 different countries spent the day discussing how to design self-care technologies that are in harmony with people’s everyday life. During the morning, discussions were driven by poster presentations focused on the participants’ work. In the afternoon, we engaged in aparticipatory design exercise focused on the self-care of Parkinson’s disease. Our discussions were driven by the experience of two people living with Parkinson’s that participated in our workshop. At the end of the exercise, each group presented the different insights, concepts and problems that each patient experiences in their everyday life with the disease. Last, we all engaged in a broader discussion with a mapping exercise of issues and challenges in relation to self-care.The contributions featured in the proceedings have been peer-reviewed by the members of the Workshop Program Committee and selected on the basis of their quality, alignment with the workshop theme, and the extent (and diversity) of their backgrounds in design. They express points of view of researchers from both Academia and Industry and provide relevant insights in the design and development use of technologies for self-care.We want to thank all the participants and co-authors for contributing to the Workshop. We are particularly grateful to the two patients, members of the Finnish Parkinson’s Association, who accepted to participate in the workshop and enabled researchers to get aperspective on the challenges of their lives. We also want to thank all the Programme Committee members for all their work during the reviewing process as well as the organisers of NordiCHI 2014 for providing useful facilities

Kliinisen päätöksenteon oppiminen pelillisen simulaation avulla : Simulaatiopelien design-periaatteet

The aim of this study was to obtain knowledge about learning clinical reasoning through game-based simulation. This knowledge could be used in developing and embedding new learning methods for clinical reasoning in nursing education. Research has shown that nursing students lack knowledge and skills in detecting and managing changes in patients’ clinical conditions. This is often due to insufficient clinical reasoning, and thus, educational organisations need to more effectively enable the development of clinical reasoning during education. Digitalisation in higher education is increasing, and the use of virtual simulations and, recently, serious games to support professional learning and competence development is growing. The purpose of this research was to generate design principles for simulation games and to design and develop a simulation game for learning clinical reasoning. Furthermore, the purpose was to investigate nursing students learning through gaming. A design-based research methodology was used: iterative cycles of analysis, design, development, testing and refinement were conducted via collaboration among researchers, nurse educators, students, programmers, 3D artist and interface designers in a real-world setting. Mixed research methods were used. The results indicated that games used to provide significant learning experiences for nursing students need to share some of the characteristics of leisure games, especially visual authenticity, immersion, interactivity and feedback systems. In terms of the clinical reasoning process, students improved in their ability to take action and collect information. The findings showed that usability, application of nursing knowledge and exploration are the aspects of a simulation game that have the greatest impact on learning clinical reasoning. It was also revealed that authentic patient-related experiences, feedback and reflection have an indirect effect on learning clinical reasoning. This study provided opportunities to advance our knowledge of nursing students’ learning processes and experiences of learning clinical reasoning through game-based simulation. Its results add to the growing body of literature on game development in the field of nursing education by providing design principles for educational simulation games. The present study confirms previous findings and contributes additional evidence that suggests that game-based simulations are a valuable learning method for healthcare education. However, in order for serious games to add value to healthcare education, the essence of the profession needs to be built into the game, and here the contribution of healthcare professionals is priceless.Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli tuottaa tietoa kliinisen päätöksenteon oppimisesta simulaatiopeliä pelaamalla sekä oppimiseen vaikuttavista tekijöistä. Tuotettua tietoa voidaan hyödyntää kehitettäessä uusia menetelmiä kliinisen päätöksenteon opetukseen. Aikaisempien tutkimusten mukaan sairaanhoitajaopiskelijoiden kliinisen päätöksenteon osaamisessa ilmenee puutteita erityisesti potilaan kliinisen tilan huononemisen havaitsemisessa ja ennaltaehkäisyssä. Tämän vuoksi koulutusorganisaatioiden tulee entistä tehokkaammin edistää kliinisen päätöksenteon kehittymistä koulutuksen aikana. Virtuaalisimulaatioiden ja viime aikoina myös hyötypelien käyttö terveysalan koulutuksessa ammatillisen osaamisen vahvistamisessa on lisääntynyt. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli muodostaa design-periaatteet oppimista edistävän simulaatiopelin kehittämiseen sekä suunnitella ja kehittää simulaatiopeli kliinisen päätöksenteon oppimiseen. Lisäksi tarkoituksena oli tutkia sairaanhoitajaopiskelijoiden oppimista simulaatiopelillä. Tutkimuksessa toteutettiin design-tutkimuksen lähestymistapaa. Tutkimus toteutettiin sykleissä, joissa simulaatiopelin suunnittelu, kehittäminen, testaaminen ja uudelleen suunnittelu vuorottelivat. Tutkimus toteutettiin tutkijoiden, hoitotyön opettajien ja opiskelijoiden sekä pelinkehittäjien (ohjelmoijat, käyttöliittymäsuunnittelijat ja 3D artisti) yhteistyössä aidoissa ympäristöissä. Tutkimus oli monimenetelmätutkimus. Tulosten mukaan merkittävät oppimiskokemukset edellyttävät, että oppimiseen tarkoitetuissa simulaatiopeleissä on hyödynnettävä viihdepelien ominaisuuksia kuten autenttisuus, immersiivisyys, interaktiivisuus ja palautejärjestelmät. Parhaiten opiskelijat kokivat oppivansa pelaamalla tiedon keräämistä ja hoitotyön toteuttamista. Tulosten mukaan oppimista simulaatiopeliä pelaamalla selittivät käytettävyys, hoitotyön tiedon käyttö sekä tutkiskelemalla oppiminen. Lisäksi oppimiseen vaikuttivat autenttiset potilaskohtaiset kokemukset, palautteen saaminen sekä reflektointi. Tutkimusprosessissa syntyneen tiedon pohjalta muodostettiin design-periaatteet simulaatiopelin kehittämiseen. Tutkimus tuotti tietoa simulaatiopelejä pelaavien sairaanhoitajaopiskelijoiden oppimisprosesseista sekä oppimiskokemuksista. Lisäksi tutkimus osoitti, että terveysalan ammattilaisten osallistuminen pelinkehitykseen on korvaamatonta, jotta ammatin syvin olemus saadaan rakennetua sisään pelimekaniikkaan. Tutkimus tuotti tietoa oppimista tukevien pelien kehittämisestä, jota voidaan hyödyntää kehitettäessä pelejä terveysalan koulutukseen sekä myös muille ammatillisen koulutuksen alueille