scholarly journals Evaluation of a Fast Test Based on Biometric Signals to Assess Mental Fatigue at the Workplace—A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 11891
Author(s):  
Mauricio A. Ramírez-Moreno ◽  
Patricio Carrillo-Tijerina ◽  
Milton Osiel Candela-Leal ◽  
Myriam Alanis-Espinosa ◽  
Juan Carlos Tudón-Martínez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Fatigue ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Burnout Syndrome ◽  
Office Work ◽  
Fatigue Assessment ◽  
Medical Fees ◽  
Performance Reduction ◽  
Subject Specific

Non-pathological mental fatigue is a recurring, but undesirable condition among people in the fields of office work, industry, and education. This type of mental fatigue can often lead to negative outcomes, such as performance reduction and cognitive impairment in education; loss of focus and burnout syndrome in office work; and accidents leading to injuries or death in the transportation and manufacturing industries. Reliable mental fatigue assessment tools are promising in the improvement of performance, mental health and safety of students and workers, and at the same time, in the reduction of risks, accidents and the associated economic loss (e.g., medical fees and equipment reparations). The analysis of biometric (brain, cardiac, skin conductance) signals has proven to be effective in discerning different stages of mental fatigue; however, many of the reported studies in the literature involve the use of long fatigue-inducing tests and subject-specific models in their methodologies. Recent trends in the modeling of mental fatigue suggest the usage of non subject-specific (general) classifiers and a time reduction of calibration procedures and experimental setups. In this study, the evaluation of a fast and short-calibration mental fatigue assessment tool based on biometric signals and inter-subject modeling, using multiple linear regression, is presented. The proposed tool does not require fatigue-inducing tests, which allows fast setup and implementation. Electroencephalography, photopletismography, electrodermal activity, and skin temperature from 17 subjects were recorded, using an OpenBCI helmet and an Empatica E4 wristband. Correlations to self-reported mental fatigue levels (using the fatigue assessment scale) were calculated to find the best mental fatigue predictors. Three-class mental fatigue models were evaluated, and the best model obtained an accuracy of 88% using three features, β/θ (C3), and the α/θ (O2 and C3) ratios, from one minute of electroencephalography measurements. The results from this pilot study show the feasibility and potential of short-calibration procedures and inter-subject classifiers in mental fatigue modeling, and will contribute to the use of wearable devices for the development of tools oriented to the well-being of workers and students, and also in daily living activities.

scholarly journals A Novel Educational Smartphone Application for Cognitively Healthy Seniors: A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6601
Author(s):  
Blanka Klimova ◽  
Lukas Sanda
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Pedagogical Practice ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Individual Needs ◽  
Instructional Manual

Modern technologies surround people every day, including seniors. The aim of this pilot study was to create a maximally user-friendly mobile application in order to meet older users’ individual needs. The research sample consisted of 13 older individuals at the age of 55+ years with a mean age of 67 years, living in the Czech Republic. The key assessment tools of this pilot study were the developed application and usability testing. The findings confirmed that the newly developed mobile application for teaching English met the needs of cognitively healthy seniors, and was acceptable and feasible. In addition, it indicated what technical (e.g., visual interface or easy navigation) and pedagogical (e.g., an instructional manual or adjusting to seniors’ learning pace or clear instructions) aspects should be strictly followed when designing such an educational smartphone application. In addition, the authors of this pilot study provide several implications for pedagogical practice. Further research should include more empirical studies aimed at the exploration of educational mobile applications for older generation groups with respect to meeting their individual needs in order to enhance their overall well-being. However, such studies are, nowadays, very rare.

Feasibility study of technology-enabled prevention intervention for children and families (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikki Theofanopoulou ◽  
Katherine Isbister ◽  
Julian Edbrooke-Childs ◽  
Petr Slovák
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Digital Camera ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Object A ◽  
Intervention Delivery ◽  
Parents And Children

BACKGROUND A common challenge within psychiatry and prevention science more broadly is the lack of effective, engaging, and scale-able mechanisms to deliver psycho-social interventions for children, especially beyond in-person therapeutic or school-based contexts. Although digital technology has the potential to address these issues, existing research on technology-enabled interventions for families remains limited. OBJECTIVE The aim of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of in-situ deployments of a low-cost, bespoke prototype, which has been designed to support children’s in-the-moment emotion regulation efforts. This prototype instantiates a novel intervention model that aims to address the existing limitations by delivering the intervention through an interactive object (a ‘smart toy’) sent home with the child, without any prior training necessary for either the child or their carer. This pilot study examined (i) engagement and acceptability of the device in the homes during 1 week deployments; and (ii) qualitative indicators of emotion regulation effects, as reported by parents and children. METHODS In this qualitative study, ten families (altogether 11 children aged 6-10 years) were recruited from three under-privileged communities in the UK. The RA visited participants in their homes to give children the ‘smart toy’ and conduct a semi-structured interview with at least one parent from each family. Children were given the prototype, a discovery book, and a simple digital camera to keep at home for 7-8 days, after which we interviewed each child and their parent about their experience. Thematic analysis guided the identification and organisation of common themes and patterns across the dataset. In addition, the prototypes automatically logged every interaction with the toy throughout the week-long deployments. RESULTS Across all 10 families, parents and children reported that the ‘smart toy’ was incorporated into children’s emotion regulation practices and engaged with naturally in moments children wanted to relax or calm down. Data suggests that children interacted with the toy throughout the duration of the deployment, found the experience enjoyable, and all requested to keep the toy longer. Child emotional connection to the toy—caring for its ‘well-being’—appears to have driven this strong engagement. Parents reported satisfaction with and acceptability of the toy. CONCLUSIONS This is the first known study investigation of the use of object-enabled intervention delivery to support emotion regulation in-situ. The strong engagement and qualitative indications of effects are promising – children were able to use the prototype without any training and incorporated it into their emotion regulation practices during daily challenges. Future work is needed to extend this indicative data with efficacy studies examining the psychological efficacy of the proposed intervention. More broadly, our findings suggest the potential of a technology-enabled shift in how prevention interventions are designed and delivered: empowering children and parents through ‘child-led, situated interventions’, where participants learn through actionable support directly within family life, as opposed to didactic in-person workshops and a subsequent skills application.

scholarly journals Worker Perspectives on Incorporating Artificial Intelligence into Office Workspaces: Implications for the Future of Office Work

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1690
Author(s):  
Yoko E. Fukumura ◽  
Julie McLaughlin Gray ◽  
Gale M. Lucas ◽  
Burcin Becerik-Gerber ◽  
Shawn C. Roll
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Office Worker ◽  
Office Work ◽  
Worker Performance ◽  
Workplace Environments ◽  
Learning Capabilities ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Group Interviews

Workplace environments have a significant impact on worker performance, health, and well-being. With machine learning capabilities, artificial intelligence (AI) can be developed to automate individualized adjustments to work environments (e.g., lighting, temperature) and to facilitate healthier worker behaviors (e.g., posture). Worker perspectives on incorporating AI into office workspaces are largely unexplored. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore office workers’ views on including AI in their office workspace. Six focus group interviews with a total of 45 participants were conducted. Interview questions were designed to generate discussion on benefits, challenges, and pragmatic considerations for incorporating AI into office settings. Sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using an iterative approach. Two primary constructs emerged. First, participants shared perspectives related to preferences and concerns regarding communication and interactions with the technology. Second, numerous conversations highlighted the dualistic nature of a system that collects large amounts of data; that is, the potential benefits for behavior change to improve health and the pitfalls of trust and privacy. Across both constructs, there was an overarching discussion related to the intersections of AI with the complexity of work performance. Numerous thoughts were shared relative to future AI solutions that could enhance the office workplace. This study’s findings indicate that the acceptability of AI in the workplace is complex and dependent upon the benefits outweighing the potential detriments. Office worker needs are complex and diverse, and AI systems should aim to accommodate individual needs.

scholarly journals Psychological Effects of Whole-body Electromyostimulation Training: a Controlled Pilot Study in Healthy Volunteers

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Keicher ◽  
Lena Pyrkosch ◽  
Bernd Wolfarth ◽  
Andreas Ströhle
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Mood State ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Current Level ◽  
Psychological Effects ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Visual Analog Scales

Abstract Background Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) training is used in popular and health sports to improve muscular performance. Little is known about the possible psychological effects of WB-EMS training. The aim of the study is therefore to investigate the possible psychological effects of WB-EMS training on subjective well-being, relaxation, mood, and perceived stress. Materials and Methods Twenty-five healthy subjects underwent conventional WB-EMS training and Sham training (without the application of electrical stimulation) as part of a randomized, controlled pilot study in a crossover design. Subjective well-being and subjective relaxation were assessed using visual analog scales, the current state of mood was assessed with Multidimensional Mood State Questionnaires (MDBF), and the current level of stress was assessed with Recovery–Stress Questionnaires/Erholungs-Belastungs-Fragebögen (RESTQEBF) before and after training. Results WB-EMS training has a statistically significant positive effect on subjective well-being and subjective relaxation, as well as on the awake subscale of the MDBF. No significant main effect of sequence and no interaction effects were found. Also, compared to a Sham training session, a single WB-EMS training session had no significant effect on mood, nervousness, or the current level of stress. Conclusion Besides physiological effects, WB-EMS might also have a strong psychological impact. WB-EMS could be beneficial for people who, due to their limitations, have problems training on a regular basis and with adequate training intensity. Trial Registration German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00012583, 22 June 2017.

scholarly journals A pilot study on the impact of a first-time central heating intervention on resident mental wellbeing

2020 ◽  
pp. 1420326X2097546
Author(s):  
Richard A Sharpe ◽  
Andrew J Williams ◽  
Ben Simpson ◽  
Gemma Finnegan ◽  
Tim Jones
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Waiting List ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Central Heating ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time ◽  
Mental Well Being

Fuel poverty affects around 34% of European homes, representing a considerable burden to society and healthcare systems. This pilot study assesses the impact of an intervention to install a new first time central heating system in order to reduce fuel poverty on household satisfaction with indoor temperatures/environment, ability to pay bills and mental well-being. In Cornwall, 183 households received the intervention and a further 374 went onto a waiting list control. A post-intervention postal questionnaires and follow-up phone calls were undertaken ( n = 557) to collect data on household demographics, resident satisfaction with indoor environment, finances and mental well-being (using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing scale). We compared responses between the waiting list control and intervention group to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. A total of 31% of participants responded, 83 from the waiting list control and 71 from the intervention group. The intervention group reported improvements in the indoor environment, finances and mental well-being. However, these benefits were not expressed by all participants, which may result from diverse resident behaviours, lifestyles and housing characteristics. Future policies need to consider whole house approaches alongside resident training and other behaviour change techniques that can account for complex interactions between behaviours and the built environment.

scholarly journals Initial Development of the Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention Parental Self-Efficacy Scale: A Pilot Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Aaron Blocher-Rubin ◽  
Paige Krabill
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Behavioral Intervention ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention ◽  
Clinical Tool ◽  
Initial Development ◽  
Intensive Behavioral Intervention ◽  
New Instrument

Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) is an effective treatment for children with autism. However, it is known that some parents struggle to fully implement the program, and providers are not always able to identify the specifics of each family’s individualized challenges. The purpose of this pilot study was to begin the process of developing a new instrument, the EIBI Parental Self-Efficacy (EPSE) Scale, to help providers better assess and assist parents in regard to EIBI implementation. The methodology included four phases: scale construction, expert review, pretest administration, and a large sample pilot study (N = 192). The final 29-item EPSE Scale contained strong reliability properties (Cronbach’s alpha = .900). Factor analysis established five subscales: Family Well-Being, Preparing for Successful Sessions, Team Participation, Not Giving Up, and Working with your Child. Following this pilot study, future research is recommended to refine and validate the EPSE Scale as a useful clinical tool for EIBI providers.

Trajectory of Performance Status and Symptom Scores for Patients With Cancer During the Last Six Months of Life

2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 1151-1158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsien Seow ◽  
Lisa Barbera ◽  
Rinku Sutradhar ◽  
Doris Howell ◽  
Deborah Dudgeon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Performance Status ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Average Pain ◽  
Observational Cohort ◽  
Over Time

Purpose Ontario's cancer system is unique because it has implemented two standardized assessment tools population-wide to improve care: the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) measures severity of nine symptoms (scale 0 to 10; 10 indicates the worst) and the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) measures performance status (scale 0 to 100; 0 indicates death). This article describes the trajectory of ESAS and PPS scores 6 months before death. Patients and Methods Observational cohort study of cancer decedents between 2007 and 2009. Decedents required ≥1 ESAS or PPS assessment in the 6 months before death for inclusion. Outcomes were the decedents' average ESAS and PPS scores per week before death. Results Ten thousand seven hundred fifty-two (ESAS) and 7,882 (PPS) decedents were included. The mean age was 65 years, half were female, and approximately 75% of assessments occurred in cancer clinics. Average PPS score declined slowly over the 6 months before death, starting at approximately 70 and ending at 40, declining more rapidly in the last month. For ESAS symptoms, average pain, nausea, anxiety, and depression scores remained relatively stable over the 6 months. Conversely, shortness of breath, drowsiness, well-being, lack of appetite, and tiredness increased in severity over time, particularly in the month before death. More than one third of the cohort reported moderate to severe scores (ie, 4 to 10) for most symptoms in the last month of life. Conclusion In this large outpatient cancer population, trajectories of mean ESAS scores followed two patterns: increasing versus generally flat. The latter was perhaps due to available treatment (eg, prescriptions) for those symptoms. Future research should prioritize addressing symptoms that worsen over time.

“I Would Like to Have a Normal Brother but I’m Happy With the Brother That I Have”: A Pilot Study About Intellectual Disabilities and Family Quality of Life From the Perspective of Siblings

2021 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2110428
Author(s):  
Raquel A. Correia ◽  
Maria João Seabra-Santos
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Family Quality Of Life ◽  
Adult Sibling ◽  
The Disabled

The relationships between siblings are the most long-lasting in families. When one of the siblings is a person with intellectual disabilities (ID), this relationship assumes an even more important role since this brother/sister will most likely become the disabled individual’s main caregiver. This pilot study had two aims: to explore the experience as an adolescent or adult sibling of a person with ID and to understand the perceptions of these siblings about quality of life as a sibling and about family quality of life. In-depth interviews were conducted with six siblings. The results showed that the experience of a sibling is positive and the acceptance process is of extreme importance. The domains which, from the sibling perspective, contribute to family quality of life are as follows: Family relationships, Acceptance, Health, Influence of values, Financial well-being, Support from others, and Leisure activities. The implications of these findings for intervention are pointed out.

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