Hill Nikki L, Mogle Jacqueline, Colancecco Elise, Dick Robert, Hannan John, Lin Feng Vankee
College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA, USA.
Int J Older People Nurs. 2015 Sep;10(3):241-9. doi: 10.1111/opn.12092. Epub 2015 Jun 15.
Technology-based attention training has demonstrated promise in its potential to improve cognitive functioning in older people. Developing mobile applications, with older users specifically in mind, may support future dissemination of these interventions and integration into daily life.
The purpose of this pilot study was to test the feasibility of an Attention Training Application (ATA) for community-dwelling older adults using mobile technology.
A descriptive, mixed-methods design was used to capture older adults' feedback on the usability and acceptability of the ATA.
A convenience sample of older adults (n = 9) from two independent living facilities participated in a 2-hour training and practice session with the ATA. Participants were given personally tailored instructions for using the mobile device and the ATA specifically. Following a practice session, participants provided ratings on multiple components of the ATA and completed an audio-recorded, semi-structured interview to provide detailed descriptions of their experience and perceptions. An iterative process of content analysis was used to characterise the open-ended responses.
Participants rated the ATA favourably overall on several 0-10 scales including likeability [8.5 (1.6)], interest [8.8 (2.3)] and satisfaction [8.2 (1.9)]. The qualitative analyses revealed several issues relevant to the feasibility of the ATA among older people including the importance of the technological background of the user, limiting negative feedback, challenges with the touch screen interface, personal preferences for challenge, extending the practice period and the difficulty of the dual-task condition.
The use of the ATA is feasible in the older adult population. Future development should specifically consider personal characteristics as well as preferences to maximise usability and acceptability among older people.
Older adults enjoyed the ATA. This opens doors to user-friendly technological interventions that may be effective in assisting older adults maintain and possibly even improve their cognitive function.
基于技术的注意力训练已显示出改善老年人认知功能的潜力。开发专门考虑老年用户的移动应用程序，可能有助于这些干预措施在未来的推广，并融入日常生活。
本试点研究的目的是测试使用移动技术的注意力训练应用程序（ATA）对社区居住的老年人的可行性。
采用描述性混合方法设计，以获取老年人对ATA可用性和可接受性的反馈。
从两个独立生活设施中选取了一个便利样本的老年人（n = 9），参与了为期2小时的ATA培训和练习课程。为参与者提供了专门针对使用移动设备和ATA的个性化指导。练习课程结束后，参与者对ATA的多个组件进行了评分，并完成了一次录音的半结构化访谈，以详细描述他们的体验和看法。采用内容分析的迭代过程来描述开放式回答。
参与者在几个0至10分的量表上对ATA总体评价良好，包括喜爱度[8.5（1.6）]、兴趣度[8.8（2.3）]和满意度[8.2（1.9）]。定性分析揭示了与ATA在老年人中的可行性相关的几个问题，包括用户技术背景的重要性、限制负面反馈、触摸屏界面的挑战、对挑战的个人偏好、延长练习时间以及双重任务条件的难度。
ATA在老年人群中的使用是可行的。未来的开发应特别考虑个人特征和偏好，以最大限度地提高老年人的可用性和可接受性。
老年人喜欢ATA。这为用户友好的技术干预打开了大门，这些干预可能有效地帮助老年人维持甚至改善他们的认知功能。
