An immersive virtual reality-based application for treating ADHD: A remote evaluation of acceptance and usability.

Introduction: Virtual reality (VR) is a digital technology currently considered to implement rehabilitation programs for children with ADHD, a disorder characterised by inattention, overactivity and impulsiveness. This study presents the results of the acceptance and usability of a VR application developed for children with ADHD aiming to provide an environment capable of supporting the development of the different attentional components. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this study had the secondary aim of assessing whether a remote evaluation was feasible and meaningful. Methods: A sample of 20 clinical experts (neuro and psychomotor therapists of the developmental age) was involved in assessing the proposed environment. Two different tools have been applied: the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM-3) questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were self-administered. Six sessions were planned in total, and each one lasted 30 min. Results: With respect to the acceptance of the system, the mean of the answers given is for most of the constructs greater than 4, showing agreement among experts. Cronbach alpha and correlations of subscales seem to confirm the reliability of measures. According to results from the interviews, the developed application has shown versatility in being able to be applied to the heterogeneity of the disorder and it was also possible to obtain valuable insights on possible additional features and functionalities. Regarding the secondary aim, the collected outcomes were positive: all the participants were satisfied with what they could perceive about the application. Conclusions: The results of this work pave the way for a future validation study with children due to the active participation of clinicians and their unanimous positive judgement confirming that the application was considered user-friendly and well accepted.

Extended reality technologies in small and medium-sized European industrial companies: level of awareness, diffusion and enablers of adoption.

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), collectively referred to as "extended reality" (XR), have begun to diffuse in industry. However, the current levels of awareness, perceived limitations, and use of AR and VR, as well as the potential differences on these aspects between these technologies are still not well known. Moreover, it is unknown whether small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) differ from large companies on these issues. This research employed a mixed methods research design to address this gap by carrying out a cross-sectional survey (n = 208) to gauge European industrial companies' level of AR and VR awareness and adoption, and by interviewing 45 companies in nine European countries in order to identify critical enabling factors in the adoption of XR for SMEs. Results show no statistical difference between the respondents' perceptions toward AR and VR or in their use levels. Thus, examining AR and VR under the umbrella term XR seems justified, especially in the context of their organizational use. However, larger companies were found to be using XR more than SMEs. Analysis of interviews based on the technology-organization-environment framework also yielded several enabling factors affecting XR adoption and specified whether they are particularly highlighted in the SME context. Overall, this paper contributes to XR research by providing a holistic multi-country overview that highlights key issues for managers aiming to invest in these technologies, as well as critical organizational perspectives to be considered by scholars.

Analysis for the design of a novel integrated framework for the return to work of wheelchair users.

BACKGROUND: Return to work represents an important milestone for workers who were injured during a workplace accident, especially if the injury results in needing a wheelchair for locomotion. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to design a framework for training novice wheelchair users in regaining autonomy in activities of daily living and in the workplace and for providing medical personnel with objective data on users' health and work-related capabilities. METHODS: The framework design was accomplished following the "Usability Engineering Life Cycle" model. According to it, three subsequent steps defined as "Know your User", "Competitive Analysis" and "Participatory Design" have been carried out to devise the described framework. RESULTS: The needs of the end-users of the framework were identified during the first phase; the Competitive Analysis phase addressed standard care solutions, Virtual Reality-based wheelchair simulators, the current methodologies for the assessment of the health condition of people with disability and the use of semantic technologies in human resources. The Participatory Design phase led to the definition of an integrated user-centred framework supporting the return to work of wheelchair users. CONCLUSION: The results of this work consists in the design of an innovative training process based on virtual reality scenarios and supported by semantic web technologies. In the near future, the design process will proceed in collaboration with the Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL). The whole framework will be then implemented to support the current vocational rehabilitation process within INAIL premises.

Effects of Combined Physical and Cognitive Virtual Reality-Based Training on Cognitive Impairment and Oxidative Stress in MCI Patients: A Pilot Study.

The growing elderly population and the increased incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) call for the improvement of the quality and the efficacy of the healthcare and social support services. Exercise and cognitive stimulation have been demonstrated to mitigate cognitive impairment and oxidative stress (OxS) has been recognized as a factor that contributes to the advancement of neurodegenerative diseases. Taking these aspects into account, the impact of a novel virtual reality (VR)-based program combining aerobic exercise and cognitive training has been evaluated in the pilot study proposed here. Ten patients (aged 73.3 ± 5.7 years) with MCI (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE: 23.0 ± 3.4) were randomly assigned to either 6 weeks physical and cognitive training (EXP) or control (CTR) group. Evaluations of cognitive profile, by a neuropsychological tests battery, and OxS, by collection of blood and urine samples, were performed before and at the end of the experimental period. The assessment of the patients' opinions toward the intervention was investigated through questionnaires. EXP group showed a tendency towards improvements in the MMSE, in visual-constructive test and visuo-spatial tests of attention, while CTR worsened. EXP group showed a greater improvement than CTR in the executive test, memory functions and verbal fluency. No statistical significance was obtained when comparing within and between both the groups, probably due to small number of subjects examined, which amplifies the effect of the slight heterogeneity in scores recorded. Despite a greater worsening of Daily Living Activities tests, all participants reported a better performance in real life, thanks to the elicited self-perceived improvement. After training intervention OxS (i.e., reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, oxidative damage of lipids and DNA) decreased resulting in significantly (range p < 0.05-0.001) lower in EXP vs. CTR group. Although not conclusive, the recorded effects in the present study are promising and suggest that this proposal would be a useful tool in support of cognitive training reducing OxS too. However, further studies on larger scale samples of patients are needed.

Giok the Alien: An AR-Based Integrated System for the Empowerment of Problem-Solving, Pragmatic, and Social Skills in Pre-School Children.

The use of technology for educational purposes is a consolidated reality, and many new tools are constantly being devised and offered for use with both normally developing children and children with special needs. Nonetheless, a detailed analysis of the processes being stimulated and of the goals being pursued is often lacking or absent. In this work we describe the design, development and preliminary testing of an integrated system which combines the use of smart devices, a physical cube, augmented reality (AR) technology, a smart TV, and a software application especially designed to stimulate cognitive and social functions in pre-school children. The system was tested with three groups of children (25 children in total) during kindergarten activities. The results show that the system is easy to understand, elicits high levels of participation and social interaction, favors strategic behaviors, and can be used by the children with limited need of instruction and support by the adult. The implications for empowerment in typically developing children and the possibilities for use with children who have specific impairments in social communication are discussed.

Perfil das mulheres submetidas ao exame cérvico-uterino do PSF Alvorada de Itaobim: contribuições para a organização do processo de trabalho

Segundo estimativa do Instituto Nacional do Câncer (INCA) para o ano de 2010, são esperados 18.430 casos de câncer de colo de útero no Brasil. No município de Itaobim, segundo o Datasus nos anos de 2001 a 2006, a neoplasia do colo de útero era a sexta causa de mortalidade. Tanto as ações de promoção, prevenção, quanto detecção precoce são imprescindíveis enquanto estratégia de controle do câncer, que são ações da Atenção Básica. Baseado no quadro de morbimortalidade do câncer, o governo brasileiro decidiu implantar o Programa Nacional de Controle do Câncer do Colo Uterino (PNCCU), chamado de Programa Viva Mulher. Dado este panorama, considerou-se necessário analisar o PNCCU no município de Itaobim. Este trabalho teve por objetivos descrever o câncer de colo de útero e as ações do PNCCU propostas, traçar o perfil das mulheres submetidas ao exame Papanicolaou na ESF Alvorada, assim como os casos diagnosticados, correlacionando a organização do município de Itaobim à proposta do PNCCU. Foi realizado levantamento e análise bibliográfica para responder aos objetivos teóricos através das bases de dados Lilacs e Scielo, no período de 2003 a 2009 e das Diretrizes do PNCCU. Realizou-se também, levantamento de dados secundários do Sistema de Informação do Câncer de Colo do Útero - SISCOLO, de mulheres atendidas nos meses de setembro a dezembro de 2009, em relação a: dados demográficos, fatores de risco para o câncer de colo do útero, periodicidade do exame Papanicolaou. Foi descrito o câncer de colo de útero e informações relevantes para sua prevenção na atenção primária, incluindo o PNCCU. O levantamento das mulheres que realizaram rastreamento para o câncer no PSF Alvorada evidenciou que 71,1% das 38 mulheres estavam na faixa etária de 25 a 59 anos, conforme preconizado pelo Ministério da Saúde. Usavam anticoncepcional oral, 11% delas e 3% fumavam. Do total, 34% não aderiram ao exame de Papanicolaou, enquanto 47% repetiram exame com intervalo mínimo de um ano. Pode-se concluir que para melhorar a organização do processo do trabalho da Estratégia Saúde da Família, enquanto programa de rastreamento do câncer, é necessário que a equipe tenha conhecimento das diretrizes do PNCCU para nortear suas ações, com a não fragmentação das ações, dando ênfase a abordagens educativas tanto individuais como em grupo melhorando ações de promoção, prevenção, detecção precoce, garantia de diagnóstico e tratamento em todos os níveis de atenção a saúde para efetivar a redução da morbimortalidade do câncer de colo de útero.