Mapping Robots to Therapy and Educational Objectives for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The aim of this study was to increase knowledge on therapy and educational objectives professionals work on with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to identify corresponding state of the art robots. Focus group sessions (n = 9) with ASD professionals (n = 53) from nine organisations were carried out to create an objectives overview, followed by a systematic literature study to identify state of the art robots matching these objectives. Professionals identified many ASD objectives (n = 74) in 9 different domains. State of the art robots addressed 24 of these objectives in 8 domains. Robots can potentially be applied to a large scope of objectives for children with ASD. This objectives overview functions as a base to guide development of robot interventions for these children

Perceived added value of a decision support App for formal caregivers in community-based dementia care

Aims and objectives To gain insight into the perceived added value of a decision support App for district nurses and case managers intended to support a problem assessment and the provision of advices on possible solutions to facilitate ageing in place of people with dementia, and to investigate how they would implement the App in daily practice. Background District nurses and case managers play an important role in facilitating ageing in place of people with dementia (PwD). Detecting practical problems preventing PwD from living at home and advising on possible solutions is complex and challenging tasks for nurses and case managers. To support them with these tasks, a decision support App was developed. Methods A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted. A photo-elicitation method and an interview guide were used to structure the interviews. The data were analysed according to the principles of content analysis. Results In five interviews with seven district nurses and case managers, the added value was described in terms of five themes: (a) providing a broader/better overview of possible solutions; (b) providing a guideline/checklist for problem assessment and advice on solutions; (c) supporting an in-depth problem assessment; (d) being a support tool for unexperienced case managers/district nurses; and (e) providing up-to-date information. The participants regarded the App as complementary to their current work procedure, which they would use in a flexible manner at different stages in the care continuum. Conclusions The participants valued both parts, the problem assessment and the overview of possible solutions. An important requisite for the usage would be that the content is continuously updated. Before implementation of the App can be recommended, an evaluation of its effectiveness regarding decision-making should be conducted. Relevance to clinical practice This study underpins the need of nurses and case managers for decision support with regard to problem assessment and providing advices on possible solutions to facilitate ageing in place of PwD. There results also show the importance of listening to users experience and their perceived added value of decision support tools as this helps to explain the lack of statistically significant effects on quantitative outcome measure in contrast to a high willingness to use the App in a previous study.</p

Evaluation of a decision support app for nurses and case managers to facilitate aging in place of people with dementia. A randomized controlled laboratory experiment

Detecting practical problems of persons with dementia (PwD) experience at home, and advising them on solutions to facilitate aging in place are complex and challenging tasks for nurses and case managers. In this two group randomized, controlled laboratory experiment, the efficacy of a decision support application aiming to increase nurses' and case managers' confidence in clinical judgment and decision-making was tested. The participants (N = 67) assessed a case of a PwD within the problem domains: self-reliance, safety and informal care, and provided suggestions for possible solutions. Participants used either their regular procedure with (intervention group) or without the App (control group) to conduct these tasks. No statistically significant difference was found on the primary outcome measure, the overall level of confidence. However, nurses and case managers highly recommended use of the App in practice. To explain these results, more research on the potential added value of the App is needed

Robot KASPAR as Mediator in Making Contact with Children with Autism:A Pilot Study

Research findings suggest that robots can enhance interventions targeted at children with autism spectrum disorder. A pilot study was conducted at a special needs school to examine the effect of robot KASPAR on making contact with children with autism. Nine children between 8 and 12 years of age participated in this mixed methods study with ABAB design. Children participated in 4 sessions, two with KASPAR and two with their teacher (usual care) resulting in total in 36 (video recorded) sessions. Main outcomes were micro behaviours of the children during sessions and teacher reactions based on video recordings. Results indicated that children showed significantly more non-verbal imitation (pvalue = 0.028), touched the robot more often than they touched the teacher (e.g. for a high-five) (pvalue = 0.012), maintained their attention longer (pvalue = 0.011), and were less often distracted (pvalue = 0.021) in the KASPAR sessions compared to the teacher sessions. The children made more positive verbal utterances as a reaction to the teacher than they did to KASPAR (pvalue = 0.028). A clinically relevant difference was identified in the amount of non-verbal behaviours shown and in the spontaneous use of verbal utterances on initiative of the child, both in favour of the KASPAR condition. As a conclusion, KASPAR was able to make contact with the children and to catch and hold their attention longer and in a more focused manner than the teachers. Moreover, children seemed to be at ease and enjoying the interactions with the robot, which constitute important requirements for further learning and implementation

Impact of Chronic Total Occlusions on Markers of Reperfusion, Infarct Size, and Long-Term Mortality: A Substudy from the TAPAS-Trial

Objectives: This study evaluated the impact of a chronic total occlusion (CTO) in a non-infarct related coronary artery (IRA) on markers of reperfusion, infarct size, and long-term cardiac mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEM!). Background: A concurrent CTO in STEMI patients has been associated with impaired left ventricular function and outcome. However, the impact on markers of reperfusion is unknown. Methods: All 1,071 STEMI patients included in the TAPAS-trial between January 2005 and December 2006 were used for this substudy. Endpoints were the association between a CTO in a non-IRA and myocardial blush grade (MBG) of the IRA, ST-segment elevation resolution (STR), enzymatic infarct size, and clinical outcome. Results: A total of 90 patients (8.4%) had a CTO. MBG 0 or 1 occurred more often in the CTO group (34.2% versus 20.6% (Odds Ratio [OR] 2.00, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-3.23, P = 0.006)). Incomplete STR occurred more often in the CTO group, (63.6% versus 48.2% [OR 1.96, 95% CI: 1.22-3.13, P = 0.005]). Median level of maximal myocardial-band of creatinin kinase (CK-MB) in the CTO group was 75 mu g/l (IQR 28-136) and 51 mu g/l (IQR 18-97) in the no-CTO group (P = 0.021). The presence of a CTO in a non-IRA in STEMI patients was an independent risk factor for cardiac mortality (HR 2.41, 95% CI: 1.26-4.61, P = 0.008) at 25 months follow-up. Conclusion: A CTO in a non-IRA is associated with impaired reperfusion markers and impaired long-term outcome in STEMI patients

Monimuotoistuvat työyhteisöt : lievästi kehitysvammaiset puhtausalan työntekijöinä

Opinnäytetyön tavoitteena on selvittää miten yksityinen palvelualan yritys voi työllistää lievästi kehitysvammaisia tulevaisuudessa entistä enemmän puhtausalan työtehtäviin. Tulevina vuosina työikäisen väestön väheneminen aiheuttaa työvoimapulaa. Työmarkkinoiden ulkopuolella on lievästi kehitysvammaisia, jotka haluaisivat työhön. Heidän työllistämisensä voisi auttaa myös tulevassa työvoimapulassa. Työn tavoitteena on selvittää miten yrityksessä voidaan työllistää lievästi kehitysvammaisia henkilöitä sekä miten heidät pitäisi huomioida työn organisoinnissa, johtamisessa ja ohjaamisessa. Tässä työssä ei käsitellä erilaisia yhteiskunnalta saatavia tukia. Opinnäytetyö on laadullinen tutkimus, jossa aineistoa kerättiin yrityksessä tehdyillä puolistrukturoiduilla teemahaastatteluilla. Selvityksen tuloksissa tuli esille, että lievästi kehitysvammaisten työllistäminen on mahdollista yrityksessä. Se vaatii kuitenkin hyvää valmistelua, valmennusta ja työjärjestelyjä.The objective of this thesis is to clarify how the private service business can employ the mildly retarded people more than now in cleaning services. In the coming years, the working-age population is going to decrease and it causes the shortage of manpower. Outside of the labor market there are the mildly retarded people, who like to work. It could also help in the shortage of manpower if the company employ them in future. The objective of the thesis is to clarify how the company can employ the mildly retarded people and how they should be noticed in the organization of the work, in the management and in the instruction. In this work there is no processing of the supports which the employers can get from society. The thesis is the qualitative research and the material was collected with half structured theme interviews which were taped in the company. The results of the report were that it is possible to employ the mildly retarded people in the company. However, it needs good preparation, training and working arrangements

Using a Delphi technique to seek consensus regarding definitions, descriptions and classification of terms related to implicit and explicit forms of motor learning.

BACKGROUND: Motor learning is central to domains such as sports and rehabilitation; however, often terminologies are insufficiently uniform to allow effective sharing of experience or translation of knowledge. A study using a Delphi technique was conducted to ascertain level of agreement between experts from different motor learning domains (i.e., therapists, coaches, researchers) with respect to definitions and descriptions of a fundamental conceptual distinction within motor learning, namely implicit and explicit motor learning. METHODS: A Delphi technique was embedded in multiple rounds of a survey designed to collect and aggregate informed opinions of 49 international respondents with expertise related to motor learning. The survey was administered via an online survey program and accompanied by feedback after each round. Consensus was considered to be reached if ≥70% of the experts agreed on a topic. RESULTS: Consensus was reached with respect to definitions of implicit and explicit motor learning, and seven common primary intervention strategies were identified in the context of implicit and explicit motor learning. Consensus was not reached with respect to whether the strategies promote implicit or explicit forms of learning. DISCUSSION: The definitions and descriptions agreed upon may aid translation and transfer of knowledge between domains in the field of motor learning. Empirical and clinical research is required to confirm the accuracy of the definitions and to explore the feasibility of the strategies that were identified in research, everyday practice and education

Multidisciplinary Views on Applying Explicit and Implicit Motor Learning in Practice: An International Survey

<div><p>Background</p><p>A variety of options and techniques for causing implicit and explicit motor learning have been described in the literature. The aim of the current paper was to provide clearer guidance for practitioners on how to apply motor learning in practice by exploring experts’ opinions and experiences, using the distinction between implicit and explicit motor learning as a conceptual departure point.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A survey was designed to collect and aggregate informed opinions and experiences from 40 international respondents who had demonstrable expertise related to motor learning in practice and/or research. The survey was administered through an online survey tool and addressed potential options and learning strategies for applying implicit and explicit motor learning. Responses were analysed in terms of consensus (≥ 70%) and trends (≥ 50%). A summary figure was developed to illustrate a taxonomy of the different learning strategies and options indicated by the experts in the survey.</p><p>Results</p><p>Answers of experts were widely distributed. No consensus was found regarding the application of implicit and explicit motor learning. Some trends were identified: Explicit motor learning can be promoted by using instructions and various types of feedback, but when promoting implicit motor learning, instructions and feedback should be restricted. Further, for implicit motor learning, an external focus of attention should be considered, as well as practicing the entire skill. Experts agreed on three factors that influence motor learning choices: the learner’s abilities, the type of task, and the stage of motor learning (94.5%; n = 34/36). Most experts agreed with the summary figure (64.7%; n = 22/34).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>The results provide an overview of possible ways to cause implicit or explicit motor learning, signposting examples from practice and factors that influence day-to-day motor learning decisions.</p></div