Joaquim Alvarelhão

Usability, accessibility and ambient-assisted living: a systematic literature review

Abstract Ambient-assisted living (AAL) is, nowadays, an important research and development area, foreseen as an important instrument to face the demographic aging. The acceptance of the AAL paradigm is closely related to the quality of the available systems, namely in terms of intelligent functions for the user interaction. In that context, usability and accessibility are crucial issues to consider. This paper presents a systematic literature review of AAL technologies, products and services with the objective of establishing the current position regarding user interaction and how are end users involved in the AAL development and evaluation processes. For this purpose, a systematic review of the literature on AAL was undertaken. A total of 1,048 articles were analyzed, 111 of which were mainly related to user interaction and 132 of which described practical AAL systems applied in a specified context and with a well-defined aim. Those articles classified as user interaction and systems were further characterized in terms of objectives, target users, users’ involvement, usability and accessibility issues, settings to be applied, technologies used and development stages. The results show the need to improve the integration and interoperability of the existing technologies and to promote user-centric developments with a strong involvement of end users, namely in what concerns usability and accessibility issues.

ICF Inspired Personas to Improve Development for Usability and Accessibility in Ambient Assisted Living

Abstract Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) is an important research and development area. The acceptance of the AAL paradigm is closely related to the quality of the available systems and services, namely in terms of the user interaction. This means that usability and accessibility are crucial issues. The paper presents how the concepts of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) can be used to optimize the role of personas and scenarios in the development and evaluation of AAL systems and services, especially in aspects related with human functioning and health conditions.

Adaptation and validation of WHODAS 2.0 in patients with musculoskeletal pain

OBJETIVO Validar la version en portugues del World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0). METODOS La version original con 36 items del WHODAS 2.0, administrada por entrevista, fue traducida al portugues de acuerdo con orientaciones internacionales, y evaluada en nueve participantes de la poblacion en general. La version en portugues fue aplicada en 204 pacientes con patologia musculoesqueletica. Se colectaron los datos sociodemograficos y de salud de los pacientes, asi como el numero de lugares donde presentaban dolor y su intensidad. El WHODAS 2.0 fue nuevamente aplicado por un segundo entrevistador, uno a tres dias posteriores a la primera entrevista para evaluar la confiabilidad inter-evaluadores. La validez del constructo fue evaluado con relacion a: capacidad del WHODAS 2.0 para diferenciar participantes con diferentes lugares con dolor y asociacion entre el WHODAS 2.0 y la intensidad del dolor. La consistencia interna tambien fue evaluada. RESULTADOS La version en portugues del WHODAS 2.0 fue de facil comprension, presento buena consistencia interna (α= 0,84) y confiabilidad inter evaluadores (CCI=0,95). Mostro ser capaz de detectar diferencias estadisticamente significativas entre individuos con diferente numero de lugares con dolor (p˂0,01) e indicar que mayor incapacidad esta asociada con la mayor intensidad del dolor (r=0,44, p˂0,01), indicando validez del constructo. CONCLUSIONES la version en portugues del WHODAS 2.0 se mostro confiable y valida al ser utilizada en pacientes con dolor asociado a la patologia musculo esqueletica.

Adaptacao e validacao do WHODAS 2.0 em utentes com dor musculoesqueletica

OBJETIVO Validar la version en portugues del World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0). METODOS La version original con 36 items del WHODAS 2.0, administrada por entrevista, fue traducida al portugues de acuerdo con orientaciones internacionales, y evaluada en nueve participantes de la poblacion en general. La version en portugues fue aplicada en 204 pacientes con patologia musculoesqueletica. Se colectaron los datos sociodemograficos y de salud de los pacientes, asi como el numero de lugares donde presentaban dolor y su intensidad. El WHODAS 2.0 fue nuevamente aplicado por un segundo entrevistador, uno a tres dias posteriores a la primera entrevista para evaluar la confiabilidad inter-evaluadores. La validez del constructo fue evaluado con relacion a: capacidad del WHODAS 2.0 para diferenciar participantes con diferentes lugares con dolor y asociacion entre el WHODAS 2.0 y la intensidad del dolor. La consistencia interna tambien fue evaluada. RESULTADOS La version en portugues del WHODAS 2.0 fue de facil comprension, presento buena consistencia interna (α= 0,84) y confiabilidad inter evaluadores (CCI=0,95). Mostro ser capaz de detectar diferencias estadisticamente significativas entre individuos con diferente numero de lugares con dolor (p˂0,01) e indicar que mayor incapacidad esta asociada con la mayor intensidad del dolor (r=0,44, p˂0,01), indicando validez del constructo. CONCLUSIONES la version en portugues del WHODAS 2.0 se mostro confiable y valida al ser utilizada en pacientes con dolor asociado a la patologia musculo esqueletica.

Inter-rater reliability, standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change of the 12-item WHODAS 2.0 and four performance tests in institutionalized ambulatory older adults

Abstract Purpose: Self-reported and performance-based instruments are both necessary for a comprehensive view of the functioning of institutionalized older adults. Our aim was to assess the reliability and measurement error of the 12-item World Health Organization Disability assessment Schedule and compare these indexes against performance-based tests. Materials and methods: One hundred participants from Nursing Homes and Day Care Centers were assessed twice (two days to one week apart) by two independent assessors. Reliability and measurement error indexes were calculated. Results: Reliability of the World Health Organization Disability assessment Schedule total score, and of three performance tests was appropriate for individual comparisons (ICC ≥ 0.92). Reliability for the five times seat to stand test was appropriate for group comparisons only (ICC = 0.84). The high measurement error of the timed up and go test (SEM = 4.25; MDC = 11.78) and of the five times seat to stand test (SEM = 3.47; MDC = 9.62) and the number of participants unable to perform them (TUG: n = 11; FTSST: n = 41) suggest that these tests are less suitable to monitor individual changes. Conclusions: The 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule total score, the gait speed and hand grip tests could be used to monitor changes at both the individual and group level in a population with decreased functioning. Implications for Rehabilitation The 12-item World Health Organization Disability assessment Schedule, could be used to monitor changes in perceived functioning both at the individual and group level in institutionalized ambulatory older adults. The gait speed and hand grip tests could be used to monitor changes in performance both at the individual and group level in institutionalized ambulatory older adults’ functioning. The utility of the time up and go and of the five times seat to stand test might be of limited value when aiming to monitor changes in institutionalized older adults’ functioning.

Pervasive Health and Regulatory Frameworks

Pervasive health deals with the application of pervasive computing for health and wellness management and its developments should be subject of regulatory oversight. The paper presents a general overview of pervasive health concepts and applications, and aims to verify the level of conformity of current developments with existing regulatory frameworks.

Goal setting for cerebral palsy children in context therapy: improve reliability when linking to ICF.

The linking process of information to ICF is a common task in different strategies used in rehabilitation practise but is a time consuming process mainly due to reliability issues. This work aims to developed additional rules to those already published in order to improve reliability of the linking process to ICF. The results are encouraging and this work could help to develop information technologies tools for facilitate this process.

AAL systems and services for end users: Are the AT models and frameworks suitable for prescription and selection?

The complexity inherent to Ambient Assisted Living raises some of issues not yet quiet solved within similar fields like Assistive Technology, namely those related with prescription and selection. This paper aims to identify models of frameworks for the prescription of AT that may serve as a foundation to develop comprehensive models for the selection, prescription and counselling process of ALL solutions. A systematic literature search was conducted in Pubmed, Eric and CiteSeerX databases using a predefined strategy. The relevant literature extracted was screened and a list of models and frameworks was elaborated. Seven models or frameworks were included for analyses. It was possible to find ICF components in all of the models or frameworks. The results showed a shift between the models from the end of last century, based in an instrumental description of components involved to a predictive end users behaviour concern. Future work should deepen the conceptual issues about the selection, prescription and counselling process of AAL systems and services.

Adaptacion y validacion del WHODAS 2.0 en usuarios con dolor musculoesqueletico

OBJETIVO Validar la version en portugues del World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0). METODOS La version original con 36 items del WHODAS 2.0, administrada por entrevista, fue traducida al portugues de acuerdo con orientaciones internacionales, y evaluada en nueve participantes de la poblacion en general. La version en portugues fue aplicada en 204 pacientes con patologia musculoesqueletica. Se colectaron los datos sociodemograficos y de salud de los pacientes, asi como el numero de lugares donde presentaban dolor y su intensidad. El WHODAS 2.0 fue nuevamente aplicado por un segundo entrevistador, uno a tres dias posteriores a la primera entrevista para evaluar la confiabilidad inter-evaluadores. La validez del constructo fue evaluado con relacion a: capacidad del WHODAS 2.0 para diferenciar participantes con diferentes lugares con dolor y asociacion entre el WHODAS 2.0 y la intensidad del dolor. La consistencia interna tambien fue evaluada. RESULTADOS La version en portugues del WHODAS 2.0 fue de facil comprension, presento buena consistencia interna (α= 0,84) y confiabilidad inter evaluadores (CCI=0,95). Mostro ser capaz de detectar diferencias estadisticamente significativas entre individuos con diferente numero de lugares con dolor (p˂0,01) e indicar que mayor incapacidad esta asociada con la mayor intensidad del dolor (r=0,44, p˂0,01), indicando validez del constructo. CONCLUSIONES la version en portugues del WHODAS 2.0 se mostro confiable y valida al ser utilizada en pacientes con dolor asociado a la patologia musculo esqueletica.