Effects of Ambulant Myofeedback Training and Ergonomic Counselling in Female Computer Workers with Work-Related Neck-Shoulder Complaints: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To investigate the effects of ambulant myofeedback training including ergonomic counselling (Mfb) and ergonomic counselling alone (EC), on work-related neck-shoulder pain and disability. Methods: Seventy-nine female computer workers reporting neck-shoulder complaints were randomly assigned to Mfb or EC and received four weeks of intervention. Pain intensity in neck, shoulders, and upper back, and pain disability, were measured at baseline, immediately after intervention, and at three and six months follow-up. Results: Pain intensity and disability had significantly decreased immediately after four weeks Mfb or EC, and the effects remained at follow up. No differences were observed between the Mfb and EC group for outcome and subjects in both intervention groups showed comparable chances for improvement in pain intensity and disability. Conclusions: Pain intensity and disability significantly reduced after both interventions and this effect remained at follow-up. No differences were observed between the two intervention groups

Evaluation of an interactive showroom to increase general knowledge about welfare technology and its potential in municipal care settings

Background: Welfare Technology (WT) can promote participation in activity. Thus, initiatives to support the implementation of WT products and services in municipality care settings needs to be developed and evaluated to benefit end-users. Objective: To evaluate an interactive showroom of WT. Material and method: Municipal employees (n = 217) filled in a questionnaire before and after they visited an interactive showroom of WT. Findings: The number of participants confirming WT’s potential to contribute to municipal operation areas increased in seven out of eight areas after their visits (p < 0.05). A statistically significant increase was also found regarding general knowledge of and confidence in WT and its potential value. Conclusion: A visit to the interactive showroom increased the perceived general knowledge and appreciated value of WT. The perception of the possibility of implementing WT in various municipal operation areas also increased, which may contribute to the implementation of WT in municipal care settings.AllAgeHu

Att starta välfärdsbibliotek : Erfarenheter från Testbädden AllAgeHub

Ett samarbete mellan A2 och A3 inom ramen för det Vinnovafinansierade projektet Testbädden AllAgeHub i samarbete mellan Högskolan i Borås och Göteborgregionens kommunförbund.</p

Att starta välfärdsbibliotek : Erfarenheter från Testbädden AllAgeHub

Ett samarbete mellan A2 och A3 inom ramen för det Vinnovafinansierade projektet Testbädden AllAgeHub i samarbete mellan Högskolan i Borås och Göteborgregionens kommunförbund.</p

eNursing - IT-stöd i omvårdnadsteamets arbete : FoU - Bidrag &amp; behov (eNursing WP4)

eNursing - IT-stöd i omvårdnadsteamets arbet

Facilitating User Involvement in Development of 3D Smart Textiles For Healthcare Applications

Smart textiles are textiles based on different types of smart materials that can sense or react on environmental stimuli. This new technology is a growing area which exhibits characteristics particularly suitable for capturing (electro) physiological signals, e.g. to monitor ECG, EEG or respiration. These textiles most often form a three dimensional structure where different materials with different characteristics are bound together in different layers. However, in order to take full advantage of these new opportunities the textile industry needs to find new methods to develop innovative smart textile products. One strong and valuable contribution is to involve users early in the development process. The aim of this paper is to highlight how product representations, e.g. prototypes or material samples, can be used to facilitate the communication between users and developers in the development of new healthcare solutions based on textiles. The study presented in this paper was performed through participatory observation. The case is based on the development of a textile structure with three dimensional properties for long-term monitoring of EEG signals.    The main findings are that product representations support the exchange of knowledge and experiences between users and developers by five different facilitating roles: Product representations serve to demonstrate (technical) solutions; to verbalise, i.e. serve to fill in were words are missing or when terms are not understood; to visualise, i.e. facilitating members of the development team to envision or adapt mental images of the intended future product; to stimulate, i.e. to inspire the development team to suggest new ideas or design; and, finally, to integrate, i.e. to unite different perspectives within the development team. Conclusion: By using product representations during the development process to facilitate the dialogue between users and developers, the textile industry may take full advantage of the opportunities made available by new development of materials and new technology in order to fulfil users’ needs