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BACKGROUND While there is a growing body of research examining opinions on social robots in elderly care, there is a lack of comprehensive studies investigating the underlying factors influencing these opinions. The Godspeed Questionnaire Series (GQS) measures perceptions related to human-robot interactions (HRIs). The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is widely used to evaluate physical, cognitive, and social functions of older patients. The EASYCare 2010 Standard (EC) is a tool for assessing unmet needs in older individuals. TIAGo, a social humanoid robot, integrates perception, navigation, and HRI capabilities. This study aimed to identify the determinants of perception following interactions between older individuals and TIAGo, utilizing the GQS, selected CGA items, and EC. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analyzed a database of opinions from older individuals who interacted with TIAGo, based on the Users' Needs, Requirements, and Abilities Questionnaire. We examined the relationships between the robot's roles (companion/assistant/useful device), its assistive/social functions, and various characteristics of the older participants. RESULTS The study included 161 participants (mean age: 75.2±9.8 years), comprising 89 women and 113 institutionalized individuals. Positive correlations were observed between the robot's role, its functions, and the participants'; perceptions across most evaluated parameters (Anthropomorphism, Animacy, Likeability, Perceived intelligence, Perceived safety). Only a few individual correlations were found for other parameters. CONCLUSIONS The primary determinant of older individuals' opinions was their perception of the robot. Therefore, involving older adults in the co-design process of such robots is crucial. Additionally, a paradigm shift is needed in the study of humanoid social robots, focusing on successful aging rather than deficits associated with aging.
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Robótica , Humanos , Feminino , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Interação Social , Envelhecimento , Bases de Dados Factuais , Avaliação GeriátricaRESUMO
BACKGROUND Long-term care facilities were severely impacted during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic. Residents surviving the disease might continue to suffer from the post-COVID syndrome, similar to community-dwelling persons. This study aimed to characterize the longitudinal evolution of activities of daily living in COVID-19 survivors from long-term institutional care. MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a retrospective study with prospective follow-up of consecutive COVID-19 survivors living in long-term care facilities. The Barthel Index was used to assess changes in functional independence before the disease, right after recovery, and 3 months later. RESULTS The study enrolled 201 residents of long-term care facilities, median age 79 years old, who survived 3 months after recovery from COVID-19. The disease caused hospitalization in 47% of cases. Early after COVID-19, deterioration in activities of daily living was higher in older, hospitalized patients with cardiovascular comorbidity. However, in the long-term follow-up, these factors did not predict functioning. Independence was severely affected in hospitalized and non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. This had implications for post-COVID care and rehabilitation since these interventions were mainly offered after hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS The findings support that residents of long-term care facilities who had COVID-19, even with a mild clinical course, may have persistent impairment in function and ability to perform activities of daily living that require support and rehabilitation.
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COVID-19 , Assistência de Longa Duração , Humanos , Idoso , Atividades Cotidianas , Estudos Prospectivos , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Efficient use of humanoid social robots in the care for older adults requires precise knowledge of expectations in this area. There is little research in this field that includes the interaction of stakeholders with the robot. Even fewer studies have compared the perceptions of older people (as care recipients) and professional caregivers (representing those taking care of older adults in teams with robots). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze whether specific aspects of the perceptions about humanoid robots influence attitudes after interacting with the robot and to compare the opinions of different stakeholders (older people and their professional caregivers) on this topic. We analyzed the potential impact of the differences in perception of the robot between stakeholder groups with respect to how the robot should be designed and tailored to fit the specific needs of future users. We also attempted to define areas where targeted educational activities could bring the attitudes of the two groups of stakeholders closer to each other. METHODS: The studied group was a conveniently available sample of individuals who took part in the presentation of and interaction with a humanoid social robot. Among them, there were 48 community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥60 years), who were participants of day care units (which may signal the presence of self-care needs), and 53 professional caregivers. The participants were asked to express their views after an interaction with a humanoid social robot (TIAGo) using the Users' Needs, Requirements and Abilities Questionnaire (UNRAQ) and the Godspeed Questionnaire Series (GQS). RESULTS: Compared to the caregivers, older adults not only assessed the robot more positively with respect to its roles as a companion and assistant (P=.009 and P=.003, respectively) but also had higher scores on their need to increase their knowledge about the robot (P=.049). Regarding the robot's functions, the greatest differences between groups were observed for the social aspects on the UNRAQ, including decreasing the sense of loneliness (P=.003) and accompanying the user in everyday activities (P=.005). As for the GQS, the mean scores of the Animacy, Likeability, and Perceived Intelligence scales were significantly higher for older participants than for caregivers (P=.04, P<.001, and P<.001, respectively). The only parameter for which the caregivers' scores were higher than those of the older adults was the Artificial-Lifelike item from the Anthropomorphism scale of the GQS (P=.03). CONCLUSIONS: The acceptance of the social functions of a humanoid robot is related to its perception in all analyzed aspects, whereas the expected usefulness of a care robot is not linked to aspects of anthropomorphism. Successful implementation of robots in the care for older people thus depends on considering not only the fears, needs, and requirements of various stakeholders but also on the perceptions of the robot. Given the differences between the stakeholders, targeted and properly structured educational and training activities for caregivers and prospective users may enable a seamless integration of robotic technologies in care provision.
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Robótica , Humanos , Idoso , Estudos Transversais , Estudos Prospectivos , Interação Social , AtitudeRESUMO
(1) Background: A robot in care for older adults requires solid research confirming its acceptance. The aim of this study was to present the Polish version of the Godspeed Questionnaire Series (GQS) and assess the perception of the social robot TIAGo; (2) Methods: The study involved older individuals living in the community and care homes and measured perception after interaction with TIAGo using five series of GQS (S1: Anthropomorphism, S2: Animacy, S3: Likeability, S4: Perceived intelligence, and S5: Perceived safety); (3) Results: We studied 178 individuals (age: 75.2 ± 9.6 years, 103 women). Good internal consistency was found. Cronbach's Alpha was 0.90 for the entire tool (from 0.75 to 0.94 for the individual series). Mean scores for S1 and S2 were comparable but lower than all others (p < 0.001). Average scores for S3 and S4 did not differ but were higher than those of S5. Age, gender and education did not impact the answers, as did the ease of use of technology and self-assessment of independence. Solely, the place of residence influenced the results of S3 and S5; people living in institutions scored higher (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively); (4) Conclusions: Acceptance does not go hand in hand with the perception of anthropomorphism and animacy.
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Robótica , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Inteligência , Autoavaliação (Psicologia) , Interação SocialRESUMO
The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of traditional neurological rehabilitation and neurological rehabilitation combined with a rehabilitation robot for patients with post-COVID-19 fatigue syndrome. Eighty-six participants transferred from intensive care units due to post-viral fatigue after COVID-19 were randomly divided into two groups: the intervention group and the control group. The control group received standard neurological rehabilitation for 120 min a day, while the intervention group received the same neurological rehabilitation for 75 min a day, complemented by 45 min of exercises on the rehabilitation robot. The Berg scale, Tinetti scale, six-minute walking test, isokinetic muscle force test, hand grip strength, Barthel Index, and Functional Independence Measure were used to measure the outcomes. Both groups improved similarly during the rehabilitation. Between groups, a comparison of before/after changes revealed that the intervention group improved better in terms of Functional Independence Measure (p = 0.015) and mean extensor strength (p = 0.023). The use of EMG-driven robots in the rehabilitation of post-COVID-19 fatigue syndrome patients was shown to be effective.
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COVID-19 , Robótica , Humanos , Força da Mão , Terapia por Exercício , FadigaRESUMO
(1) Background: Using autonomous social robots in selected areas of care for community-dwelling older adults is one of the promising approaches to address the problem of the widening care gap. We posed the question of whether a possibility to interact with the technology to be used had an impact on the scores given by the respondents in various domains of needs and requirements for social robots to be deployed in care for older individuals. (2) Methods: During the study, the opinions of older people (65+; n = 113; with no severe cognitive impairment) living in six social care institutions about a robot in care for older people were collected twice using the Users' Needs, Requirements and Abilities Questionnaire (UNRAQ): after seeing a photo of the robot only and after a 90−150 min interaction with the TIAGo robot. (3) Results: Mean total scores for both assistive and social functions were higher after the interaction (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between opinion changes in social and assistive functions (r = 0.4842; p = 0.0000). (4) Conclusions: Preimplementation studies and assessments should include the possibility to interact with the robot to provide its future users with a clear idea of the technology and facilitate necessary customisations of the machine.
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Disfunção Cognitiva , Robótica , Idoso , Humanos , Vida Independente , Apoio Social , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Long-term care units' residents do not constitute a homogeneous population. Providing effective care, tailored to individual needs, is crucial in this context. It can be facilitated by suitable tools and methods, which include needs assessment along with the physical, psychological and social aspects of care. We thus applied a cluster approach to identify their putative groupings to enable the provision of tailored care. METHODS: The needs of 242 residents of care homes in four Polish cities (Poznan, Wroclaw, Bialystok and Lublin), aged 75-102 years (184 females), with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 15 points, were assessed with the CANE (Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly) questionnaire. Their independence in activities of daily living was evaluated by the Barthel Index (BI), and symptoms of depression by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The results of MMSE, BI and GDS were selected as variables for K-means cluster analysis. RESULTS: Cluster 1 (C1), n = 83, included subjects without dementia according to MMSE (23.7 ± 4.4), with no dependency (BI = 85.8 ± 14.4) and no symptoms of depression (GDS = 3.3 ± 2.0). All subjects of cluster 2 (C2), n = 87, had symptoms of depression (GDS = 8.9 ± 2.1), and their MMSE (21.0 ± 4.0) and BI (79.8 ± 15.1) were lower than those in C1 (p = 0.006 and p = 0.046, respectively). Subjects of cluster 3 (C3), n = 72, had the lowest MMSE (18.3 ± 3.1) and BI (30.6 ± 18,8, p < 0.001 vs. C1 & C2). Their GDS (7.6 ± 2.3) were higher than C1 (p < 0.001) but lower than C2 (p < 0.001). The number of met needs was higher in C2 than in C1 (10.0 ± 3.2 vs 8.2 ± 2.7, p < 0.001), and in C3 (12.1 ± 3.1) than in both C1 and C2 (p < 0.001). The number of unmet needs was higher in C3 than in C1 (1.2 ± 1.5 vs 0.7 ± 1.0, p = 0.015). There were also differences in the patterns of needs between the clusters. CONCLUSIONS: Clustering seems to be a promising approach for use in long-term care, allowing for more appropriate and optimized care delivery. External validation studies are necessary for generalized recommendations regarding care optimization in various regional perspectives.
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Atividades Cotidianas , Assistência de Longa Duração , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Depressão/diagnóstico , Depressão/epidemiologia , Feminino , Avaliação Geriátrica , Humanos , Testes de Estado Mental e Demência , Polônia/epidemiologia , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Populations are aging at an alarming rate in many countries around the world. There has been not only a decrease in the number of births and an increase in the percentage of older people, but also an increase in the number of people living alone. There is growing demand for specialist medical care and daily care with the number of people who can act as caregivers reducing. The use of assistive robots can, at least partially, solve these problems. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the opinions of future health care professionals (medical and nursing students) regarding the use of assistive robots in the care of older people. METHODS: The study was conducted with a group of 178 students from Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland (110 nursing students and 68 medical students), using the Users' Needs, Requirements, and Abilities Questionnaire. RESULTS: The participants of this study believed that assistive robots should, first of all, remind older people to take medication regularly, ensure their safety, monitor their health status and environment, provide cognitive training, and encourage them to maintain physical activity. In the students' opinion, the robot should not be an older person's companion but only act as an assistant. Nursing students had significantly higher scores than medical students in several statements concerning everyday use of robots, including reminding about meals (P=.03), monitoring the environment (P=.001), providing advice about a healthy diet (P=.04), monitoring the intake of food and fluids (P=.02), and automatic "switch on" function (P=.02). Nursing students were more focused on the social functions of robots, including encouraging contact with friends (P=.003) and reducing the sense of loneliness and improving mood (P=.008). Medical students were more aware of privacy issues in the statement concerning the possibility of switching off the robot in specific situations (P=.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed a generally positive attitude of future doctors and nurses toward assistive robots, which can have an impact on their acceptance by older adults. In the future, medical professionals could help their patients to choose the right robots (and necessary functions) that are best suited to their needs. However, this would require expanding the curriculum to include the issues of gerontechnology.
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Cuidadores/normas , Robótica/métodos , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Estudantes de Medicina , Estudantes de Enfermagem , Inquéritos e Questionários , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Background and objective: The number of studies related to medical students' attitude toward pain is limited. The aim of our study was, thus, to assess the medical students' knowledge of pain assessment and treatment in advanced stages of dementia in order to improve the existing curriculum in this area. Material and methods: We analyzed the medical students' knowledge about pain in advanced dementia based on a short questionnaire. The research was anonymous. The questionnaire was completed by 147 students. Results: The students most often suggested that pain in patients with advanced dementia could be manifested via body language and facial expression (107 students-72.8% and 100 students-68.0%, respectively). Vocalization was the third most frequently reported pain manifestation (84-57.1%). Other groups of pain symptoms (changes in activity patterns, changes in interpersonal interactions, and mental status changes) were indicated less often (p < 0.0001). Only five students (3.4%) listed the DOLOPLUS behavioral pain scale as an assessment tool for patients with advanced dementia, and 16 (10.9%) indicated observational scale elements or a necessity to observe the patient. Still, 110 students (74.5%) correctly characterized pain treatment in patients with advanced dementia. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, our study is pioneering in defining the deficits of medical students' knowledge on pain assessment and treatment in patients with advanced dementia. We highlighted knowledge gaps in the area of pain assessment which might make medical students incapable of proper pain treatment. Following the International Association for the Study of Pain considerations regarding the need for excellence in pain education, these results can contribute to the improvement of existing medical curricula in Poznan University of Medical Sciences to include pain management in dementia in a more "patient-centered" way in order to increase future staff's competency and to assure a better quality of care.
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Atitude do Pessoal de Saúde , Demência/complicações , Dor/etiologia , Estudantes de Medicina/psicologia , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Demência/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Dor/psicologia , Medição da Dor/métodos , Polônia , Estudantes de Medicina/estatística & dados numéricos , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND The ageing of population is the reason that there are various strategies developed to help seniors acquire greater independence and a better quality of life. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the elderly peope's need for assistance and assessed quality of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 100 participants who were members of a Seniors Club in Poznan, Poland. The cross-sectional study utilized the following instruments: Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), EASY-Care Standard 2010 questionnaire, (WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. RESULTS Members of the Seniors' Club showed good functional condition. In the AMTS test, they scored near maximum values (average 9.39±0.77 points), somewhat poorer results were found in the IADL scale (average 20.92±3.96 points). In the EASY-Care questionnaire, the study participants usually required partial support in the following areas: Mental health and well-being (59%), Staying healthy (29%), Getting around (22%), and Seeing, hearing and communicating (22%). The average score on Independence was 13.13±18.51, The risk of breakdown in care scale was 4.39±3.21. The risk of falls affected 21 participants (21%). Quality of life study using WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire found that the highest scores were achieved in Psychological and Environment domains, and the lowest score in the Physical health domain. CONCLUSIONS Quality of life as well as level of independence, risk of falls, and need for 24-hour care were significantly affected by the following factors: urinary incontinence, difficulties in mobility outside the home, despondency, and forgetfulness.
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Saúde Mental , Qualidade de Vida , Apoio Social , Idoso , Demografia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Análise de Regressão , Fatores de Risco , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Falls affect approx. 30% of elderly population per year. They cause major injuries and reduce independence of the older adults' functioning. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the degree of independence and find the fall risk factors in the study group. METHODS: The study included 506 - older adults. The study group included patients from GP clinics and members of two senior centers. The study duration was 12 months. Our study tools included EASY- Care Standard 2010 questionnaire, Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS), Index Barthel, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Timed Up and Go (TUG). RESULTS: The study included 357 (70.6%) female and 149 (29.4%) male subjects. The mean age of the study group patients was 75.7 years ± 8.0. Most of the older adult subjects were independent in both basic (Index Barthel) and instrumental (IADL) activities. Gait fluency evaluated in TUG scale found slow and unsteady gait in 33.7% of the subjects. 27.5% of the subjects used mobility aids when walking. In the Risk of falls scale, 131 subjects (25.89%) were at risk of falls. According to logistic regression the main risk of fall determinants (p <0.05) in the study group were: age, previous falls, feet problems, lack of regular care, impaired vision, urinary incontinence, pain, sleeping disorders, and lowered mood. CONCLUSIONS: Risk of falls increases in people less independent in terms of basic and complex life activities and in people with depression. Most of the risk factors can be modified. It is necessary to develop a standard procedure aimed at preventing falls in the elderly.
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Acidentes por Quedas , Atividades Cotidianas/psicologia , Depressão , Marcha , Caminhada , Acidentes por Quedas/prevenção & controle , Acidentes por Quedas/estatística & dados numéricos , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Depressão/diagnóstico , Depressão/epidemiologia , Depressão/fisiopatologia , Feminino , Avaliação Geriátrica/métodos , Humanos , Vida Independente/psicologia , Vida Independente/estatística & dados numéricos , Testes de Inteligência , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Limitação da Mobilidade , Avaliação das Necessidades , Polônia/epidemiologia , Medição de Risco/métodos , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
This paper explores the exceptional intercultural encounter between secular therapists and Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel, focusing on two key aspects. Firstly, it explores the distinctive attributes and conflicts inherent in treating Ultra-Orthodox individuals. On the one hand is the secular Israeli therapist, whose base is in Western philosophy that prioritizes individuality, cultural diversity, and tolerance of differences. On the other hand is the Haredi client, entrenched in values from Jewish tradition and religious principles that amplify solidarity and collectivism while rejecting prevalent secular culture. The existing socio-political climate in Israel often positions these two as potentially conflicting cultures. Secondly, the paper seeks to illuminate the uncommon dynamics of the minority-majority power balance within the therapeutic relationship. In contrast to prevalent literature in intercultural therapy, which typically frames the client as a representative of a disadvantaged minority and the therapist as a representative of a dominant majority, this article aims to unravel a nuanced power balance, where those in the minority perceive the dominant culture both as a threat to its way of life and as a despised entity, but paradoxically rely entirely on its financial support. This reveals a complex and intricate interplay of dominance and dependence, shaping a therapeutic relationship that defies conventional expectations.
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The COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale (C19-YRS) is a patient-reported outcome measure designed to assess the long-term effects of COVID-19. The scale was validated and is commonly used in the general population. In this study, we assess the utility of the C19-YRS in evaluating the post-COVID burden among residents of long-term care facilities with a mean age of 79. C19-YRS and Barthel index evaluations were performed among 144 residents of long-term care facilities reporting new or worsened symptoms or functioning three months after convalescence from COVID-19. The C19-YRS-based screening showed that 70.9% of COVID-19 convalescents had ≥1 complaint three months after recovery. The highest C19-YRS-scored symptoms (indicating a higher burden) were breathlessness, fatigue, and cognitive and continence problems; however, symptomatology was very heterogeneous, revealing a high complexity of the disease in older persons. The mean total C19-YRS score was higher in hospitalized patients (n = 78) than in the outpatient group (n = 66) (p = 0.02). The functioning subscale of the C19-YRS strongly correlated with the Barthel index, with r = -0.8001 (p < 0.0001). A moderately strong correlation existed between retrospectively reported C19-YRS-based functioning and the Barthel index score reported before illness (r = 0.7783, p < 0.0001). The C19-YRS is instrumental in evaluating the consequences of COVID-19 among long-term-care residents. The assessment allows for a broad understanding of rehabilitation needs.
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Purpose: The admissions of nonagenarians to internal medicine wards are rising. The aim of this study was to analyse the causes of ward admission and blood and renal parameters as potential mortality predictors in this age group. Patients and Methods: Out of 1140 patients, 111 nonagenarians aged 90+ admitted to the Internal Medicine Ward in one general hospital in Poznan in 2019 were studied. Medical records of these patients were analysed to find factors attributable to the hospitalisation. Results: The leading causes of admission were infections and cardiovascular diseases, and the main causes of death were cardiovascular diseases. Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level was a statistically significant death predictor. Equally, decreased albumin level was found to be a mortality predictor. No such relationships were obtained for haematological or renal parameters. Conclusion: Our study uniquely analysed a relatively large group of hospitalised nonagenarians and identified those who need particular attention in the ward by identifying those with the highest risk of death. CRP and albumin levels may serve as useful indicators of in-hospital mortality in this age group.
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Proteína C-Reativa , Doenças Cardiovasculares , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Humanos , Nonagenários , Polônia , HospitaisRESUMO
This paper focuses on three areas: the first is a review of current knowledge about social and service robots for elderly care. The second is an optimization conceptual model aimed at maximizing the efficiency of assigning robots to serve the elderly. The proposed multi-criteria optimization model is the first one proposed in the area of optimization for robot assignment for the elderly with robot utilization level and caregiver stress level. The third is the findings of studies on the needs, requirements, and adoption of technology in elderly care. We consider the use of robots as a part of the ENRICHME project for long-term interaction and monitoring of older persons with mild cognitive impairment, to optimize their independence. Additionally, we performed focus group discussions (FGD) to collect opinions about robot-related requirements of the elderly and their caregivers. Four FDGs of six persons were organized: two comprising older adults, and two of the other formal and informal caregivers, based on a detailed script. The statements of older participants and their caregivers were consistent in several areas. The analysis revealed user characteristics, robot-related issues, functionality, and barriers to overcome before the deployment of the robot. An introduction of the robot must be thoroughly planned, include comprehensive pre-training, and take the ethical and practical issues into account. The involvement of future users in the customization of the robot is essential.
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Self-esteem reflects the way we see ourselves. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship among self-esteem, bio-psycho-social functioning, and sociodemographic conditions in the elderly. The study included 300 individuals over 60 years of age living in their home environment. The employed research tools included the Abbreviated Mental Test Score, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and EASYCare Standard 2010 questionnaire involving the following scales: independence score, risk of breakdown in care, and risk of falls. Results: The average score achieved by the study group according to the RSES scale was 29.9 ± 5.6 points. In addition, the study group presented a low risk of independence loss (independence score 13.3 ± 18.1), risk of breakdown in care (4.4 ± 2.4), and risk of falls (1.8 ± 1.6). The conducted multivariate analysis demonstrated that a significant (p < 0.05) negative predictor of low self-esteem was education below the secondary level, a poor financial condition, and functional limitations in domain I (seeing, hearing, and communicating skills) of the EASYCare Standard 2010 questionnaire. A relationship was found between self-esteem and the level of bio-psycho-social functioning, as well as between education and the financial situation. The results demonstrate that even successfully ageing individuals require a regular assessment of their functional status and individually adapted support in order to maintain independence and to increase their self-esteem.
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Autoimagem , Idoso , Demografia , Escolaridade , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
This pilot study aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of an EMG-driven rehabilitation robot in patients with Post-Viral Fatigue (PVF) syndrome after COVID-19. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups (IG-intervention group and CG-control group) in an inpatient neurological rehabilitation unit. Both groups were assessed on admission and after six weeks of rehabilitation. Rehabilitation was carried out six days a week for six weeks. The patients in the IG performed additional training using an EMG rehabilitation robot. Muscle fatigue was assessed using an EMG rehabilitation robot; secondary outcomes were changes in hand grip strength, Fatigue Assessment Scale, and functional assessment scales (Functional Independence Measure, Barthel Index). Both groups improved in terms of the majority of measured parameters comparing pre- and post-intervention results, except muscle fatigue. Muscle fatigue scores presented non-significant improvement in the IG and non-significant deterioration in the CG. Using an EMG rehabilitation robot in patients with PVF can be feasible and safe. To ascertain the effectiveness of such interventions, more studies are needed, particularly involving a larger sample and also assessing the participants' cognitive performance.
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COVID-19 , Robótica , Reabilitação do Acidente Vascular Cerebral , Estudos de Viabilidade , Força da Mão , Humanos , Projetos Piloto , Robótica/métodos , Reabilitação do Acidente Vascular Cerebral/métodosRESUMO
The research aims to compare the accuracy of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), the Addenbrooke's cognitive examination III (ACE-III) and the mini-Addenbrooke's cognitive examination (M-ACE) within the Polish population. The model comprised several stages: the features of each test were compared; the shifts in result categorisations between the norm and below the norm were analysed; a third category-mild cognitive impairment (MCI)-was included. Additionally, particular ACE-III domains that scored below domain-specific norm thresholds were analysed to establish the potential early predictors of dementia. All tests correlated to a high and very high degree-cf. MMSE and ACE-III (r = 0.817; p < 0.001), MMSE and M-ACE (r = 0.753; p < 0.001), ACE-III and M-ACE (r = 0.942; p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve for the ACE-III diagnostic variable had a high value (AUC = 0.920 ± 0.014). A cut-off point of 81 points was suggested for ACE-III; the M-ACE diagnostic variable had an equally high value (AUC = 0.891 ± 0.017). A cut-off point of 20 points was suggested. A significant decrease in the mean score values for people who scored norm or below the norm under ACE-III, as compared to the MMSE results for norm (p < 0.0001), occurred for speech fluency (which decreased by 26.4%). The tests in question are characterised by high sensitivity and specificity. Targeted ACE-III seems best recommended for use in specialised diagnostic centres, whereas M-ACE appears to be a better suited diagnostic alternative for primary health care centres in comparison to MMSE.
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Cognição , Disfunção Cognitiva , Disfunção Cognitiva/diagnóstico , Disfunção Cognitiva/psicologia , Humanos , Testes de Estado Mental e Demência , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Polônia , Curva ROC , Reprodutibilidade dos TestesRESUMO
Poor nutritional status (PNS) is a modifiable factor determining abnormalities in body composition-sarcopenia, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity (SO). We aimed to assess the prevalence of these conditions and their association with PNS in 211 community-dwelling older adults. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2) recommendations. Obesity was diagnosed with the Percent Body Fat (>42% in women and >30% in men). Subjects fulfilling the criteria for obesity and concomitantly with reduced lower and/or upper limbs muscle strength and muscle mass (ALM/BMI < 0.512 in women and <0.789 in men) were classified as SO phenotype. Participants without obesity and sarcopenia were categorized as 'normal' phenotype. Nutritional status was estimated with the Mini Nutritional Assessment, and a score of <24 indicated PNS. In total, 49.8% participants had abnormal body composition (60.7% men and 42.5% women; p = 0.001). Sarcopenia, obesity, and SO were diagnosed in 10%, 32.7%, and 7.1% of subjects. PNS was found in 31.3% of the study sample. Its prevalence differed between phenotypes: 81% in sarcopenia, 60% in SO, 14.5% in obesity, and 28.3% in the 'normal' phenotype group (p = 0.000). Based on the results, abnormal body composition is prevalent in elderly subjects. Sarcopenia and SO are often associated with PNS.