Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2020 Oct;15(7):754-761. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2019.1686075. Epub 2019 Nov 15.
This study was aimed at assessing a smartphone-based intervention to help 11 individuals with moderate Alzheimer's disease and ambulation problems to manage goal-directed, walker-assisted ambulation and object use (i.e., to reach specific destinations and put away objects at those destinations independently). The study was carried out according to a non-concurrent multiple baseline design across participants. Two measures were recorded, that is, the number of target responses performed correctly (with each target response consisting of reaching a destination and putting away an object), and the number of observation intervals with indices of enjoyment/appreciation (e.g., smiles and positive comments). During baseline, the participants were provided with a walker and three objects that were to be transported to and put away at specific destinations. During the intervention, the participants also had the smartphone-based technology that provided them with instructions about the destinations and objects, praise, and preferred stimulation. During baseline, the mean frequency of correct target responses was virtually zero. The mean frequency of intervals with indices of enjoyment/appreciation ranged from zero to close to one. During the intervention, the mean frequencies for the two measures were slightly below three and just over three, respectively. The maximum frequencies possible were three and four, respectively. A smartphone-based intervention may be suitable to foster goal-directed, walker-assisted ambulation and object use as well as enjoyment/appreciation in participants like those involved in this study.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONA smartphone-based intervention may be used to promote goal-directed, walker-assisted ambulation and object use as well as indices of enjoyment/appreciation in persons with moderate Alzheimer disease.The technology for such intervention might involve (a) a smartphone with Android operating system, light sensor, Bluetooth v4.0, and MacroDroid, (b) Bluetooth headphones or earpieces, and (c) battery-powered light sources.The technology may provide the participants with instructions about the destinations to reach and the objects to put away at those destinations, and with praise and brief periods of preferred stimulation at the target destinations.The technology may be considered easy to access, friendly for the participants, and suitable for use by staff within daily contexts.
这项研究旨在评估一种基于智能手机的干预措施，以帮助 11 名患有中度阿尔茨海默病和行动问题的个体管理有目标的、助步器辅助行走和物体使用（即独立到达特定目的地并将物体放在那些目的地）。该研究按照参与者之间的非同期多项基线设计进行。记录了两项措施，即正确执行的目标响应次数（每个目标响应包括到达目的地和放置一个物体），以及有享受/欣赏指数（例如微笑和积极评价）的观察间隔次数。在基线阶段，参与者提供了助步器和三个要运送到特定目的地并存放的物体。在干预期间，参与者还使用了基于智能手机的技术，该技术为他们提供了关于目的地和物体、表扬和首选刺激的指令。在基线阶段，正确目标响应的平均频率几乎为零。享受/欣赏指数的间隔平均频率范围从接近零到接近一。在干预期间，这两个措施的平均频率分别略低于三和略高于三。可能的最大频率分别为三和四。基于智能手机的干预措施可能适合促进有目标的、助步器辅助行走和物体使用以及参与者的享受/欣赏。
对康复的影响
基于智能手机的干预措施可用于促进中度阿尔茨海默病患者有目标的、助步器辅助行走和物体使用以及享受/欣赏指数。
这种干预措施的技术可能涉及（a）带有 Android 操作系统、光传感器、蓝牙 v4.0 和 MacroDroid 的智能手机，（b）蓝牙耳机或耳塞，以及（c）电池供电的光源。
该技术可为参与者提供有关到达目的地的指令以及在这些目的地放置物体的指令，并在目标目的地提供表扬和短暂的首选刺激。
该技术可能被认为易于访问、对参与者友好且适合在日常环境中由工作人员使用。
