scholarly journals Digital personal assistants are smart ways for assistive technology to aid the health and wellbeing of patients and carers

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gayathri Victoria Balasubramanian ◽  
Paul Beaney ◽  
Ruth Chambers
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Service Evaluation ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Service Redesign ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Digital health solutions such as assistive technologies create significant opportunities to optimise the effectiveness of both health and social care delivery. Assistive technologies include ‘low-tech’ items, such as memory aids and digital calendars or ‘high-tech’ items, like health tracking devices and wearables. Depending on the type of assistive devices, they can be used to improve quality of life, effect lifestyle improvements and increase levels of independence. Acceptance of technology among patients and carers depends on various factors such as perceived skills and competencies in using the device, expectations, trust and reliability. This service evaluation explored the impact of a pilot service redesign focused on improving health and wellbeing by the use of a voice-activated device ‘smart speaker’, Alexa Echo Show 8. Methods A service evaluation/market research was conducted for a pilot service redesign programme. Data were collected via a survey in person or telephone and from two focus groups of patients (n = 44) and informal carers (n = 7). The age of the study participants ranged from 50 to 90 years. Also, the participants belonged to two types of cohort: one specifically focused on diabetes and the other on a range of long-term health conditions such as multiple sclerosis, dementia, depression and others. Results The device had a positive impact on the health and social well-being of the users; many direct and indirect benefits were identified. Both patients and carers had positive attitudes towards using the device. Self-reported benefits included: reminders for medications and appointments improved adherence and disease control; increased independence and productivity; and for those living alone, the device helped combat their loneliness and low mood. Conclusion The findings from the study help to realise the potential of assistive technology for empowering supporting health/social care. Especially, the season of COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for remote management of health, the use of assistive technology could have a pivotal role to play with the sustainability of health/social care provision by promoting shared care between the care provider and service user. Further evaluation can explore the key drivers and barriers for implementing assistive technologies, especially in people who are ageing and with long-term health conditions.

Human Performance

2014 ◽  
pp. 267-273
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Human Performance ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Working Environments ◽  
The Future ◽  
Performance Issues ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact

This chapter looks into horizontal issues in ICT advances and discusses how the factor of human performance could help in increasing the impact of eAccessibility and assistive technologies in the future. More specifically, it revisits some of the ideas presented in earlier chapters looking at them from a different angle. The one of maximizing the audience and target group for assistive technologies through the increase in human performance, issues related with exoskeletons for working environments and dual use of assistive technology, sports as a motivator, aesthetics and fashion of prosthetics are discussed from this same perspective. Human performance could be a critical factor for the future of assistive technologies, and today's people with disabilities could become tomorrow's people with super-abilities and leaders in human performance issues.

Recruitment to a trial of self-care skills training in long-term health conditions: Analysis of the impact of patient attitudes and preferences

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Bower ◽  
Anne Kennedy ◽  
David Reeves ◽  
Claire Gately ◽  
Victoria Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Care ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Patient Attitudes ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Dyslexia and digital technology

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor Chester
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Education System ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Technology In The Classroom ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
The Cost ◽  
User Friendly

This research manuscript investigates how technology can be used to help students with dyslexia. Using a Google Forms survey and an interview with an expert on the topic, different types of technologies, the pros and cons of using assistive technology, and recommendations for implementing assistive technology in the classroom are listed.  It was found that assistive technology is beneficial for students with dyslexia, but each student will benefit from different technologies. The main challenges with assistive technology that this research project uncovered included, glitches, not being user friendly, and the cost of some of these technologies. These problems apply mainly to higher tech assistive technologies, so including low tech assistive technologies in the classroom as well as high tech options could benefit students and avoid some of these challenges. Understanding some of the different assistive technologies that are available and beneficial for students with dyslexia is important for those involved in the education system so that we can give students with dyslexia the tools that they need to succeed. When educators know about, understand how to use, and have the resources to acquire assistive technologies then technology can be used to help students with dyslexia.

scholarly journals The Delirium and Population Health Informatics Cohort study protocol: ascertaining the determinants and outcomes from delirium in a whole population

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Davis ◽  
Sarah Richardson ◽  
Joanne Hornby ◽  
Helen Bowden ◽  
Katrin Hoffmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Health Informatics ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackgroundDelirium affects 25% of older inpatients and is associated with long-term cognitive impairment and future dementia. However, no population studies have systematically ascertained cognitive function before, cognitive deficits during, and cognitive impairment after delirium. Therefore, there is a need to address the following question: does delirium, and its features (including severity, duration, and presumed aetiologies), predict long-term cognitive impairment, independent of cognitive impairment at baseline?MethodsThe Delirium and Population Health Informatics Cohort (DELPHIC) study is an observational population-based cohort study based in the London Borough of Camden. It is recruiting 2000 individuals aged ≥70 years and prospectively following them for two years, including daily ascertainment of all inpatient episodes for delirium. Daily inpatient assessments include the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale, the Observational Scale for Level of Arousal, and the Hierarchical Assessment of Balance and Mobility. Data on delirium aetiology is also collected. The primary outcome is the change in the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status at two years.DiscussionDELPHIC is the first population sample to assess older persons before, during and after hospitalisation. The cumulative incidence of delirium in the general population aged ≥70 will be described. DELPHIC offers the opportunity to quantify the impact of delirium on cognitive and functional outcomes. Overall, DELPHIC will provide a real-time public health observatory whereby information from primary, secondary, intermediate and social care can be integrated to understand how acute illness is linked to health and social care outcomes.

scholarly journals Caregivers’ Mental Health and Somatic Symptoms During COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung S Park
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Short Term ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Abstract Objectives This study examines differences in the mental and physical health of the U.S. population during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic among 3 groups: noncaregivers, short-term caregivers (1 year or less), and long-term caregivers (greater than 1 year). Methods Data from the Understanding America Study are used to describe group differences in reports of psychological distress and somatic symptoms. Logistic and negative binomial regression models are used to examine whether these differences persist after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and prepandemic health conditions. To understand within-group differences in caregiving demands, the intensity of care provided by short-term and long-term caregivers, as well as selected patients’ health conditions are summarized. Results Adults’ mental and physical health varied substantially by caregiver status. Caregivers continued to fare worse than noncaregivers in terms of mental health and fatigue, and long-term caregivers were more likely to report headache, body aches, and abdominal discomfort than both short-term caregivers and noncaregivers, net of controls. The nature of caregiving differed between short-term and long-term caregivers, with the latter more likely to provide greater hours of care, and to be looking after patients with permanent medical conditions. Discussion Efforts to understand and mitigate the impact of the pandemic on population health should include caregivers, whose mental and physical health were already vulnerable before COVID-19.

Is health coaching the next panacea in healthcare reform?

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 323-326
Author(s):  
Catherine Best
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Healthcare Reform ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Health Coaching ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Non Communicable Disease

Health coaching aims to empower patients to self-manage their long-term health conditions. Catherine Best explores the effect health coaching can have on patients and the shifts that are required to deliver it Non-communicable diseases now account for the vast majority of deaths globally. It is recognised that personalised care is key to managing non-communicable disease and health coaching is considered an essential element. Health coaching is a developing field of practice that encourages patients to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviours that can avert the impact of chronic disease. This article explores the effect health coaching can have on patients and the shifts that are required to deliver it.

scholarly journals Prevalence of mental health conditions amongst people living with human immunodeficiency virus in one of the most deprived localities in England

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 619-626
Author(s):  
A Gill ◽  
AWIP Ranasinghe ◽  
A Sumathipala ◽  
KA Fernando
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Service Evaluation ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
White Ethnicity ◽  
Mental Health Conditions ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
The Impact

Mental health conditions (MHCs) are often unrecognised which can result in detrimental physical health outcomes and poor quality of life. This can be compounded by the impact of deprivation. People living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) are more likely to be affected by MHCs which if untreated, may result in both clinical and psychosocial adversities. To ascertain the prevalence of and factors associated with MHCs in the human immunodeficiency virus cohort of Stoke-on-Trent, which is the 13th most deprived locality in England, we conducted a cross-sectional service evaluation using electronic records of 302 PLWH attending the service between October 2018 and January 2019. The prevalence of MHCs amongst PLWH was 33.4% (101/302). Depression was the most prevalent MHC affecting 17.2% (52/302). Those of white ethnicity were at higher risk (odds ratio [OR] = 3.14; p < 0.01) of MHCs compared to black Asian and minority ethnic groups. Women were at higher risk of having an MHC (OR = 3.15; p < 0.01), and recreational drug use was also a significant factor (OR = 16.18; p = 0.01) associated with MHCs. There is sub-optimal access and heterogeneity in the modes of referral to mental health support services. Commissioning constraints will further detrimentally affect our ability to provide support in an already deprived area, thus widening health inequalities affecting the most vulnerable.

scholarly journals Social prescribing in practice: community-centred approaches

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 338-341
Author(s):  
Michelle Howarth ◽  
Liz Burns
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Practice Nurses ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Social Prescribing ◽  
Care And Support ◽  
What Matters

More people are living longer with multimorbidities, many of which are handled in general practice. Michelle Howarth and Liz Burns highlight the contribution that general practice nurses can make to providing person-centred approaches to improving health and wellbeing The NHS Long Term Plan recognised the need to understand that ’what matters to someone’ is not the same as ‘what's the matter with someone’. Conversations that focus on what is the matter with someone typically draw out the patient's needs, with assessment and care planning based on classic principles of pathogenesis and accompanying clinical solutions. Conversations that consider what matters to someone draw out a person's individual assets and what is important to them, with personalised care and support planning based on principles of salutogenesis and non-medical solutions, such as social prescribing. This article explores the pivotal role that practice nurses have in maximising their impact on personalised care and population health for all, including for people living with long-term physical and mental health conditions. It highlights the unique contribution that practice nurses can make in strengthening community-centred approaches to health and wellbeing in primary care.

Assistive Technology and Literacy Learning: Reflections of Parents and Children

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Jeffs ◽  
Michael Behrmann ◽  
Brenda Bannan-Ritland
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Literacy Learning ◽  
Learning Task ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
The Impact

Literacy is important not only to school success but is fundamental to skills needed to succeed in our rapidly changing technology-driven society. This article focuses on characteristics, interactions, and attitudes of parents and children related to their use of assistive technologies to build literacy skills. Interviews and observations involving parents and children using a variety of assistive technologies, along with a synthesis of research literature provide a framework for discussion. A contextual background for technology use by parents and children examines (a) specific learning characteristics of parents and children selecting and using assistive technology, (b) the impact of technology on their attitudes in the literacy process, and (c) areas of support needed by parents and students in literacy learning. Parents and children used a combination of technologies to meet specific individual learning needs. As a result, customization of the learning task through the use of technology occurred and in return provided enhanced opportunities for engagement and interaction to take place. Parents and children began to learn from each other and from the technology.

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