Usability Assessment of Body Controlled Electric Hand Prostheses: A Pilot Study.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Godfrey SB
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8602815 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Recent advances in rehabilitation robotics suggest that it may be possible for hand-amputated subjects to recover at least a significant part of the lost hand functionality. The control of robotic prosthetic hands using non-invasive techniques is still a challenge in real life: myoelectric prostheses give limited control capabilities, the control is often unnatural and must be learned through long training times. Meanwhile, scientific literature results are promising but they are still far from fulfilling real-life needs. This work aims to close this gap by allowing worldwide research groups to develop and test movement recognition and force control algorithms on a benchmark scientific database. The database is targeted at studying the relationship between surface electromyography, hand kinematics and hand forces, with the final goal of developing non-invasive, naturally controlled, robotic hand prostheses. The validation section verifies that the data are similar to data acquired in real-life conditions, and that recognition of different hand tasks by applying state-of-the-art signal features and machine-learning algorithms is possible.
| S-EPMC4421935 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Introduction:Sensory feedback in hand prostheses is lacking but wished for. Many amputees experience a phantom hand map on their residual forearm. When the phantom hand map is touched, it is experienced as touch on the amputated hand. A non-invasive sensory feedback system, applicable to existing hand prostheses, can transfer somatotopical sensory information via phantom hand map. The aim was to evaluate how forearm amputees experienced a non-invasive sensory feedback system used in daily life over a 4-week period. Methods:This longitudinal cohort study included seven forearm amputees. A non-invasive sensory feedback system was used over 4 weeks. For analysis, a mixed method was used, including quantitative tests (ACMC, proprioceptive pointing task, questionnaire) and interviews. A directed content analysis with predefined categories sensory feedback from the prosthesis, agency, body ownership, performance in activity, and suggestions for improvements was applied. Results:The results from interviews showed that sensory feedback was experienced as a feeling of touch which contributed to an experience of completeness. However, the results from the questionnaire showed that the sense of agency and performance remained unchanged or deteriorated. The ability to feel and manipulate small objects was difficult and a stronger feedback was wished for. Phantom pain was alleviated in four out of five patients. Conclusion:This is the first time a non-invasive sensory feedback system for hand prostheses was implemented in the home environment. The qualitative and quantitative results diverged. The sensory feedback was experienced as a feeling of touch which contributed to a feeling of completeness, linked to body ownership. The qualitative result was not verified in the quantitative measurements. Clinical Trial Registration:Name: Evaluation of a Non-invasive Sensory Feedback System in Hand Prostheses. Date of registration: March 15, 2019. Date the first participant was enrolled: April 1, 2015. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03876405 ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4140-7478.
| S-EPMC7358396 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe usability of dexterous hand prostheses is still hampered by the lack of natural and effective control strategies. A decoding strategy based on the processing of descending efferent neural signals recorded using peripheral neural interfaces could be a solution to such limitation. Unfortunately, this choice is still restrained by the reduced knowledge of the dynamics of human efferent signals recorded from the nerves and associated to hand movements.FindingsTo address this issue, in this work we acquired neural efferent activities from healthy subjects performing hand-related tasks using ultrasound-guided microneurography, a minimally invasive technique, which employs needles, inserted percutaneously, to record from nerve fibers. These signals allowed us to identify neural features correlated with force and velocity of finger movements that were used to decode motor intentions. We developed computational models, which confirmed the potential translatability of these results showing how these neural features hold in absence of feedback and when implantable intrafascicular recording, rather than microneurography, is performed.ConclusionsOur results are a proof of principle that microneurography could be used as a useful tool to assist the development of more effective hand prostheses.
| S-EPMC6454621 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Consumer-based, free Voice and video over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) software systems such as Skype and others are used by health care providers to deliver telerehabilitation and other health-related services to clients. Privacy and security applications as well as HIPAA compliance within these protocols have been questioned by practitioners, health information managers, and other healthcare entities. This pilot usability study examined whether four respondents who used the top three, free consumer-based, VoIP software systems perceived these VoIP technologies to be private, secure, and HIPAA compliant; most did not. While the pilot study limitations include the number of respondents and systems assessed, the protocol can be applied to future research and replicated for instructional purposes. Recommendations are provided for VoIP companies, providers, and clients/consumers.
| S-EPMC4296813 | biostudies-other
Project description:Background and aimsAccurate and user-friendly assessment tools quantifying alcohol consumption are a prerequisite to effective prevention and treatment programmes, including Screening and Brief Intervention. Digital tools offer new potential in this field. We developed the 'Animated Alcohol Assessment Tool' (AAA-Tool), a mobile app providing an interactive version of the World Health Organization's Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) that facilitates the description of individual alcohol consumption via culturally informed animation features. This pilot study evaluated the Russia-specific version of the Animated Alcohol Assessment Tool with regard to (1) its usability and acceptability in a primary healthcare setting, (2) the plausibility of its alcohol consumption assessment results and (3) the adequacy of its Russia-specific vessel and beverage selection.MethodsConvenience samples of 55 patients (47% female) and 15 healthcare practitioners (80% female) in 2 Russian primary healthcare facilities self-administered the Animated Alcohol Assessment Tool and rated their experience on the Mobile Application Rating Scale - User Version. Usage data was automatically collected during app usage, and additional feedback on regional content was elicited in semi-structured interviews.ResultsOn average, patients completed the Animated Alcohol Assessment Tool in 6:38 min (SD = 2.49, range = 3.00-17.16). User satisfaction was good, with all subscale Mobile Application Rating Scale - User Version scores averaging >3 out of 5 points. A majority of patients (53%) and practitioners (93%) would recommend the tool to 'many people' or 'everyone'. Assessed alcohol consumption was plausible, with a low number (14%) of logically impossible entries. Most patients reported the Animated Alcohol Assessment Tool to reflect all vessels (78%) and all beverages (71%) they typically used.ConclusionHigh acceptability ratings by patients and healthcare practitioners, acceptable completion time, plausible alcohol usage assessment results and perceived adequacy of region-specific content underline the Animated Alcohol Assessment Tool's potential to provide a novel approach to alcohol assessment in primary healthcare. After its validation, the Animated Alcohol Assessment Tool might contribute to reducing alcohol-related harm by facilitating Screening and Brief Intervention implementation in Russia and beyond.
| S-EPMC8891874 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Powered hand prostheses with many degrees of freedom are moving from research into the market for prosthetics. In order to make use of the prostheses' full functionality, it is essential to study efficient ways of high dimensional myoelectric control. Human subjects can rapidly learn to employ electromyographic (EMG) activity of several hand and arm muscles to control the position of a cursor on a computer screen, even if the muscle-cursor map contradicts directions in which the muscles would act naturally. But can a similar control scheme be translated into real-time operation of a dexterous robotic hand? We found that despite different degrees of freedom in the effector output, the learning process for controlling a robotic hand was surprisingly similar to that for a virtual two-dimensional cursor. Control signals were derived from the EMG in two different ways, with a linear and a Bayesian filter, to test how stable user intentions could be conveyed through them. Our analysis indicates that without visual feedback, control accuracy benefits from filters that reject high EMG amplitudes. In summary, we conclude that findings on myoelectric control principles, studied in abstract, virtual tasks can be transferred to real-life prosthetic applications.
| S-EPMC3825263 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:To evaluate the effectiveness of a brief mindfulness intervention on hand hygiene performance and mindful attention for inpatient physician teams. DESIGN:A pilot, pre-test/post-test randomised controlled mixed methods trial. SETTING:One academic medical centre in the USA. PARTICIPANTS:Four internal medicine physician teams consisting of one attending, one resident, two to three interns and up to four medical students. INTERVENTION:A facilitated, group-based educational discussion on how mindfulness, as practised through mindful hand hygiene, may improve clinical care and practices in the hospital setting. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES:The primary outcome was hand hygiene adherence (percentage) for each patient encounter. Other outcomes were observable mindful moments and mindful attention, measured using the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale, from baseline to post-intervention, and qualitative evaluation of the intervention. RESULTS:For attending physicians, hand hygiene adherence increased 14.1% in the intervention group compared with a decrease of 5.7% in the controls (P=0.035). For residents, the comparable figures were 24.7% (intervention) versus 0.2% (control) (P=0.064). For interns, adherence increased 10.0% with the intervention versus 4.2% in the controls (P=0.007). For medical students, adherence improved more in the control group (4.7% intervention vs 7.7% controls; P=0.003). An increase in mindfulness behaviours was observed for the intervention group (3.7%) versus controls (0.9%) (P=0.021). Self-reported mindful attention did not change (P=0.865). CONCLUSIONS:A brief, education-based mindfulness intervention improved hand hygiene in attending physicians and residents, but not in medical students. The intervention was well-received, increased mindfulness practice, and appears to be a feasible way to introduce mindfulness in the clinical setting. Future work instructing clinicians in mindfulness to improve hand hygiene may prove valuable. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:NCT 03165799; Results.
| S-EPMC6701174 | biostudies-literature
Project description:A prospective randomized controlled pilot study was performed to determine if video self-assessment improves competency in mastoidectomy and to assess interrater agreement between expert and resident evaluations of recorded mastoidectomy. Sixteen otolaryngology residents were recorded while performing cadaveric mastoidectomy and randomized into video self-assessment and control groups. All residents performed a second recorded mastoidectomy. Performance was evaluated by blinded experts with a validated assessment scale. Video self-assessment did not lead to greater skill improvement between the first and second mastoidectomy. Interrater agreement was fair to substantial between the expert evaluators and between resident self-evaluations by recall and video review. Agreement between experts and residents was only slight to fair; residents consistently rated their performance higher than experts (P < .05). In conclusion, 1 session of video self-review did not lead to improved competence in mastoidectomy over standard practice. While experts agree on assessments, residents may overestimate their competency in performing cadaveric mastoidectomy.
| S-EPMC6239141 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivePoor electronic health record (EHR) usability contributes to clinician burnout and poses patent safety risks. Site-specific customization and configuration of EHRs require individual EHR system usability and safety testing which is resource intensive. We developed and pilot-tested a self-administered EHR usability and safety assessment tool, focused on computerized provider order entry (CPOE), which can be used by any facility to identify specific issues. In addition, the tool provides recommendations for improvement.Materials and methodsAn assessment tool consisting of 104 questions was developed and pilot-tested at 2 hospitals, one using a Cerner EHR and the other using Epic. Five physicians at each site participated in and completed the assessment. Participant response accuracy compared to actual EHR interactions, consistency across participants, and usability issues identified through the tool were measured at each site.ResultsAcross sites, participants answered an average of 46 questions in 23 min with 89.9% of responses either correct or partially correct. The tool identified 8 usability and safety issues at one site and 7 at the other site across medication, laboratory, and radiology CPOE functions.DiscussionThe tool shows promise as a method to rapidly evaluate EHR usability and safety and provide guidance on specific areas for improvement. Important improvements to the evaluation tool were identified including the need to clarify certain questions and provide definitions for usability terminology.ConclusionA self-administered usability and safety assessment tool can serve to identify specific usability and safety issues in the EHR and provide guidance for improvements.
| S-EPMC9338455 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionTranslational evidence for mind-body interventions in hand therapy is limited. This pilot study aimed to determine potential benefits of including a mindful body scan or sonographic biofeedback at the outset of a hand therapy session on key psychological states.MethodsA randomized, repeated-measures, cross-over design was used to evaluate a mindful body scan and sonographic biofeedback at the outset of a hand therapy session. Measures of pain, anxiety, and stress (i.e., salivary cortisol) were obtained from 21 hand therapy patients at the start, after 20 minutes, and at the end of each of three 60-minute treatments. Trends were examined, and mixed-effects regression compared effects across time within and across the sessions for each of the outcome measures.ResultsFor all intervention types, anxiety and stress decreased across the treatment session (p<0.001); no statistically significant changes were noted in pain. Using either mind-body intervention before standard care resulted in a meaningful decrease and statistical trend toward improvement in stress. The use of a mindful body scan produced an immediate, statistically significant reduction in anxiety (β = -0.14, p = 0.03), a lowered level that was maintained throughout the therapy session.DiscussionThese data provide preliminary support for integrating mind-body interventions as preparatory activities in hand therapy. Mindful body scans may prepare patients for therapeutic interventions by more quickly reducing anxiety, and the use of either intervention may reduce patient stress more than would occur during a standard care session. These effects should be evaluated in an adequately powered clinical trial.
| S-EPMC7685254 | biostudies-literature