Evaluating activities of daily living using an infrared depth sensor: KINECTTM

Purpose: With a growing proportion of elderly people in the population, the maintenance of activities of daily living (ADLs) in elderly people is crucial to keep medical costs down. We investigated the ADL measurement accuracy of KINECT^TM and Kinect Studio. To eliminate the subjectivity of conventional methods, we numerically assessed motions with computer analysis.

Methods: Eighteen actions that repeated “move” and “stationary” phases, including movement of arms, legs, head and torso were measured using KINECT^TM. Errors and standard deviations of joint coordinates at the stationary points outputted from KINECT Studio were evaluated. Simultaneous measurements were performed with KINECT^TM using conventional high-performance motion capture, and the output was treated as a true value for comparison.

Results: In most motions, errors of the joint coordinates were within 100?mm; however, there were two cases where errors due to the skeleton-model estimation by KINECT Studio increased. Firstly, when a part of the body unexpectedly moved out of the infrared measurable area, and secondly, when parts of the body overlapped each other on the KINECT^TM image.

Conclusions: KINECT^TM and Kinect Studio are effective for ADL assessment when positions that cause large errors are excluded. Since KINECT^TM has sufficient precision, it should also be possible to develop a more appropriate ADL evaluation system with a new algorithm of skeleton-model estimation that does not depend on KINECT Studio.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• The KINECT^TM and Kinect Studio are effective for ADL assessment when positions that cause large errors are excluded

• With an increasing proportion of elderly people in the population, the maintenance of activities of daily living (ADLs) in elderly people is crucial to keep medical costs down

• Systems such as the KINECT^TM can support these goals

     

Fear of fear and the anxiety disorders

The responses of 271 outpatients with diagnoses of agoraphobia with panic attacks, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or depression (major depressive disorder or dysthymic disorder) to the Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire (ACQ) and the Body Sensations Questionnaire (BSQ) were examined. Agoraphobics scored significantly higher than all other groups on fear of body sensations associated with anxiety. In addition, agoraphobics, together with clients with panic disorder, had significantly higher scores on thoughts that physical illness would be caused by their anxiety. All clinical groups scored significantly higher than normal controls on thoughts that their anxiety would lead to social embarrassment or loss of control; there were no significant differences among clinical subjects on this measure, although agoraphobics' scores were higher than those of all other groups. In addition, analyses of data from 364 agoraphobics showed that the ACQ and BSQ predicted an important feature of agoraphobia—namely, self-reported avoidance behavior, even once the common variance of fear of fear with trait anxiety was partialed out. In summary, it appears that fear of fear is an important distinguishing characteristic among clients with anxiety disorders, and one that cannot be reduced to global psychological distress or trait anxiety.The authors wish to thank Aaron T. Beck, Gary Brown, and Gail Steketee, whose cooperation in data collection made this study possible; Nazareth Pantaloni, for his assistance in data analysis; and Carol Glass, for her helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper.     

Planning locally relevant Internet programs for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease

Background

Although the Internet has been shown to be an effective tool for supporting behavioural change in other chronic diseases, less in known about the efficacy of, or need for, Internet-based interventions in the prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD).

Aims

We investigated computer literacy, consumer need and perceived usefulness of the Internet as a secondary prevention tool in people with CHD.

Methods

A two-step mixed-method process was used that included a survey and two focus groups. The 12-item survey explored participants' access and confidence using the Internet. For the focus groups, we used standard methodology.

Results

We recruited 66 (88% response rate) consecutive cardiac patients; age 36–73 years (mean 64 ± 13), mostly male (85%), whose primary language was predominantly English (67%). Seventy percent had a home computer with Internet access but only 20% reported researching their heart-health online. There was polarity between those with and without Internet access. Further, we found less women than men could complete online forms (p = 0.03) and that participants aged over 65 years were less likely to access the Internet (p < 0.01) and had lower confidence (p < 0.01) than younger counterparts. Focus groups revealed challenges of an online secondary prevention service, but participants valued relevant, practical advice and placed strong emphasis on simple web design.

Conclusion

Using a mixed-methods process we collected locally sensitive information about Internet usage and recommendations for future online health-management strategies. Some patients have more confidence using the Internet, therefore a range of multi-technological secondary prevention interventions should be considered based on individual need.     

Characteristics and rehabilitation outcomes among patients with blast and other injuries sustained during the Global War on Terror

Sayer NA, Chiros CE, Sigford B, Scott S, Clothier B, Pickett T, Lew HL. Characteristics and rehabilitation outcomes among patients with blast and other injuries sustained during the Global War on Terror.

Objective

To describe characteristics and rehabilitation outcomes among patients who received inpatient rehabilitation for blast and other injuries sustained in Iraq and Afghanistan during the Global War on Terror.

Design

Observational study based on chart review and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administrative data.

Setting

The 4 VA polytrauma rehabilitation centers (PRCs).

Participants

Service members (N=188) admitted to a PRC during the first 4 years of the Global War on Terror for injuries sustained during Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.

Intervention

Multidisciplinary comprehensive rehabilitation program.

Main Outcomes Measures

Cognitive and motor FIM instrument gain scores and length of stay (LOS).

Results

Most war-injured patients had traumatic brain injury, injuries to several other body systems and organs, and associated pain. Fifty-six percent had blast-related injuries, and the pattern of injuries was unique among those with injuries secondary to blasts. Soft tissue, eye, oral and maxillofacial, otologic, penetrating brain injuries, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and auditory impairments were more common in blast-injured patients than in those with war injuries of other etiologies. The mechanism of the injury did not predict functional outcomes. LOS was variable, particularly for those with blast injuries. Patients with low levels of independence at admissions made the most progress but remained more dependent at discharge compared with other PRC patients. The rate of gain was slower in this low-functioning group.

Conclusions

Blasts produce a unique constellation of injuries but do not make a unique contribution to functional gain scores. Findings underscore the need for assessment and treatment of pain and mental health problems among patients with polytrauma and blast-related injuries. Patients with polytrauma have lifelong needs, and future research should examine needs over time after community re-entry.     

Nurses' assessment of pain in surgical patients

AIM: This paper reports a study to compare nurses' ratings of pain intensity and suffering (affect) in adult surgical patients with patients' own ratings of these variables, and to investigate whether pain ratings were influenced by cultural and ethnic differences. BACKGROUND: Studies show that postoperative pain continues to be under-treated in a large proportion of cases. The problem may be partly due to inaccurate pain assessment by nurses. METHOD: A convenience sample of 95 patients and 95 nurses in adult surgical units was selected from four hospitals in Jerusalem, Israel in 2003-2004. A questionnaire was administered to each patient by the researcher. The questionnaire included: (a) a Hebrew translation of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire for pain sensation, pain affect, and present pain intensity at rest and on movement; (b) visual analogue scales for overall pain intensity, suffering, and satisfaction with treatment; and (c) demographic and cultural data. Within a few minutes of the patient completing the questionnaire, a nurse who had been allocated to care for that patient made an independent assessment of the patient's pain. The nurse then left the patient's room and filled in the same questionnaire. FINDINGS: Nurses significantly underestimated all dimensions of pain on the above scales, but accurately assessed patient treatment satisfaction. There were no statistically significant effects for cultural and ethnic differences in pain assessment. Both types of clinical area where nurses worked and nurses' level of nursing education were found not to influence their assessment. CONCLUSION: The findings have implications for the management of postoperative pain by highlighting the need for more accurate pain assessment. Further research is required to elucidate the way in which nurses and patients conceptualize pain and to understand better the process of pain assessment in clinical nursing practice.     

Examining health visiting expertise: combining simulation, interview and observation

BACKGROUND: Resource constraints and the drive towards evidence-based practice are currently prompting the review of health visiting services, which are a costly element of community health services in the United Kingdom. There is a shortage of evidence about effective domiciliary health visiting practice that can inform local and national decisions about developing and reforming this service. AIMS: This paper is based on a study which aimed to articulate the health visiting expertise involved in recognizing and responding to client need during home visits. The paper describes the innovative, multi-method approach used to articulate this expertise, and presents the rationale for this unusual approach. DISCUSSION: The study used the complementary methods of a 20-minute simulated visit to an actress-client, a postsimulation focused interview and subsequent observation of actual home visits with 15 study participants. Data-gathering took place between 2001 and 2002. The rationale, strengths and limitations of the methodology are discussed, and recommendations made for further development based on the work. CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirmed the utility of this unusual combination of methods, with their blend of control and naturalism, for articulating the knowledge and expertise which underpins assessment practice. Further research using a similar approach is recommended for the systematic examination of professional expertise in nursing and multi-disciplinary contexts.     

Interpreting interrater reliability coefficients of the Braden scale: a discussion paper

There are many studies investigating psychometric properties of the Braden scale, a scale that predicts the risk for pressure ulcers. The main focus of these studies is validity as opposed to reliability. In order to estimate the degree of interrater reliability a literature review revealed that numerous statistical approaches and coefficients were used (Pearson's product-moment correlation, Cohen's kappa, overall percentage of agreement, intraclass correlation). These coefficients were calculated for the individual items and the overall Braden score and were used inconsistently. The advantages and limitations of every coefficient are discussed and it is concluded that most of them are inappropriate measures. Therefore, estimating the degree of the Braden scale interrater reliability is limited to a certain extent. It is shown that the intraclass correlation coefficient is an appropriate statistical approach for calculating the interrater reliability of the Braden scale. It is recommended to present intraclass correlation coefficients in combination with the overall percentage of agreement.     

Prediction of social activity 1 year poststroke

OBJECTIVE: To develop an easy-to-use prediction rule for social activity 1 year poststroke that can identify patients at risk for social inactivity. DESIGN: Inception cohort. SETTING: Rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with a first-ever supratentorial stroke were selected in 4 Dutch rehabilitation centers. Data of 250 patients were available for analysis. Potential prognostic factors measured at admission were sex, age, marital status, prestroke employment status, educational level, type of stroke, hemisphere, motor impairment, trunk control, communication, and activities of daily living (ADL) dependency. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Social activity measured by the Frenchay Activities Index (FAI) at 1 year poststroke. RESULTS: Multivariate backward linear regression analysis identified sex, age, marital status, motor impairment, communication, and ADL dependency as important predictors of the FAI score 1 year poststroke. An easy-to-use score chart was constructed that could identify patients at risk for social inactivity. The score chart proved to be well able to discriminate poor social functioning from moderate to good social functioning (area under the curve = .85). CONCLUSIONS: Identifying patients at risk enables health care professionals to focus on the social activity of this patient subgroup at an early stage in the care process.     

国产PJ-I型电脑型人体平衡功能检测仪的应用

目的：客观、定量了解正常及多种疾病患者的静立平衡功能；检验国际上常用指标及新增指标的敏感性。方法：运用国产电脑型人体平衡功能检测仪对５０４例正常人及２４６例神经科、五官科、骨伤科患者进行检测，分析比较其静态姿势图。结果：该仪器大部分指标与年龄呈曲线关系，脑卒中、共济失调、颈椎病及非颈椎肱眩晖患者静立明显下降，帕金森病在０．０１￣０．１Ｈｚ摆相对功率增加。四肢骨骼疾病患者静立稳定性较小。结论：该仪器