Browsing by Keyword "Assistive technologies"
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Item Expectations and user experience of a multimodal medicine management system for older users(2014-06) Harjumaa, Marja; Idigoras, Igone; Isomursu, Minna; Garzo, Ainara; Medical TechnologiesPurpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyse the adoption of a multimodal medication management system (MMS) targeted on older people and home care professionals. The paper aims to describe the expectations of the system and the user experience findings from an empirical qualitative field trial. The field trial results are used to discuss how MMSs should be designed in order to improve adherence to medications. Design/methodology/approach: The paper suggests that building a multimodal medicine management system targeted on both older users and home care professionals brings many benefits over electronic medicine dispenser systems or general reminder systems. The research process uses an iterative prototyping approach including phases of requirements analysis and concept design, prototype building and evaluation in a field trial. Findings: The study demonstrates how a system that merely satisfied users during the prototype building phase does not necessarily succeed as well as expected in the field trials. It would be important to consider reasons for medication non-adherence and non-technology factors influencing willingness to adopt new assistive devices in order to promote diffusion of new MMSs at home. The paper also discusses how the different persuasive functionalities of the system addressed patient-centred factors influencing non-adherence and how they could be addressed. Research limitations/implications: This study has some limitations. The actual adherence to medications was not measured. However, in the future, it will be important to study how the MMSs influence medication adherence. Also, the user experiences of the home care professionals were not studied in the field trials. Home care professionals who were involved in the user studies and trials merely estimated the value for their patients and not for themselves. Originality/value: This paper analyses design issues relevant when designing systems to help older people manage their medications.Item Optimal multi-field functional electrical stimulation parameters for the “drinking task - reaching phase” and related upper limb kinematics repeatability in post stroke subjects(2022-10-01) Sousa, Andreia S.P.; da Silva, Cláudia Isabel Costa; Mesquita, Inês Albuquerque; Silva, Augusta; Macedo, Rui; Imatz-Ojanguren, Eukene; Hernandez, Erik; Keller, Thierry; Moreira, Juliana; da Fonseca, Pedro Filipe Pereira; Santos, Rubim; Medical Technologies; Tecnalia Research & InnovationBackground: No specific guidelines for the management of functional electrical stimulation (FES) parameters in post stroke patients have been defined yet, despite its frequent use. The purpose of this study is to characterize the optimal FES parameters that assist the reaching phase of drinking task (“drinking task - reaching phase”) on post stroke subjects and to analyze the related upper limb (UL) movement quality indicators repeatability. Methods: An observational study with a test and re-test design involving ten post stroke subjects with UL dysfunction was performed. End-point and joint kinematics of contralesional UL were assessed during the “drinking task - reaching phase” with FES through a test and retest design. FES parameters were adjusted to improve UL function according to a consensus between physiotherapists and patients’ perspective. Findings: It was possible to establish reliable FES parameters that assisted the “drinking task - reaching phase”. All FES parameters presented high to very high repeatability and led to moderate to very high repeatability in almost UL movement quality indicators during the “drinking task - reaching phase”. Interpretation: These findings show that the main characteristics of FES parameters that improves patient perception of change are quite stable, which facilitate its implementation in clinical practice by allowing consistence between intervention sessions.Item Optimal Multifield Functional Electrical Stimulation Parameters for the “Turn on the Light” Task and Related Upper Limb Kinematics Repeatability in Poststroke Subjects(2021-06) Sousa, Andreia S.P.; Mesquita, Inês Albuquerque; Costa da Silva, Cláudia Isabel; Silva, Augusta; Macedo, Rui; Imatz-Ojanguren, Eukene; Hernandez, Erik; Keller, Thierry; Moreira, Juliana; Pereira da Fonseca, Pedro Filipe; Santos, Rubim; Medical Technologies; Tecnalia Research & InnovationObjective: To characterize the optimal functional electrical stimulation (FES) parameters that assist the turn on the light task (TOTL) on poststroke participants and to analyze the related upper limb (UL) kinematics repeatability. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Human movement research center. Participants: Poststroke individuals (N=11) with history of a single unilateral stroke that resulted in a motor control dysfunction of the contralesional UL. Interventions: FES based on surface multifield technology applied to the contralesional wrist and finger extensors during the TOTL. Main Outcome Measures: FES outcome metrics (virtual electrodes, stimulation duration, intensity) and kinematic metrics (end-point kinematics [absolute and relative duration, mean and peak velocities, relative instant of peak velocity, index of curvature, number of movement units] and joint kinematics [shoulder, elbow, wrist end position and range of movement]). Outcome measures were assessed 2 times with a 72-hour maximum time interval. Conclusion: It was possible to establish reliable FES parameters that assisted the TOTL on poststroke participants. These stimulation parameters led to high to very high repeatability in terms of UL kinematics for most of the cases.