Usability Analysis of a System for Cognitive Rehabilitation, "Gradior", in a Spanish Region

Usability and user experience impressions of older adults with cognitive impairment and people with schizophrenia towards GRADIOR, a cognitive rehabilitation program: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the impressions of older adults with mild dementia/MCI (mild cognitive impairment) and people with schizophrenia towards the usability of GRADIOR (version 4.5) and their user experience (UX) with this computerized cognitive rehabilitation program.

METHODS

The impressions towards the usability of GRADIOR and the UX of 41 older adults with mild dementia/MCI and 41 people with schizophrenia were obtained using the User Experience Questionnaire.

RESULTS

Older adults with dementia/MCI had more positive impressions than people with schizophrenia. Both agreed that its quality was lower in Dependability.

CONCLUSION

GRADIOR meets users' needs and preferences but needs improvements to ensure they feel more in control when interacting with it. For people with schizophrenia, other aspects of usability and UX need improvement. Usability and UX evaluation allow the verification of technological acceptability and functionality, and to identifying specific improvements for each user group.

Computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation in neurological patients: state-of-art and future perspectives

Background and aim

Advances in computing technology enabled researchers and clinicians to exploit technological devices for cognitive training and rehabilitation interventions. This expert review aims to describe the available software and device used for cognitive training or rehabilitation interventions of patients with neurological disorders.

Methods

A scoping review was carried out to analyze commercial devices/software for computerized cognitive training (CCT) in terms of feasibility and efficacy in both clinical and home settings. Several cognitive domains responding to the different patients' needs are covered.

Results

This review showed that cognitive training for patients with neurological diseases is largely covered by several devices that are widely used and validated in the hospital setting but with few translations to remote/home applications. It has been demonstrated that technology and software-based devices are potential and valuable tools to administer remotely cognitive rehabilitation with accessible costs.

Conclusion

According to our results, CCT entails the possibility to continue cognitive training also in different settings, such as home, which is a significant breakthrough for the improvement of community care. Other possible areas of use should be the increase in the amount of cognitive therapy in the free time during the hospital stay.

The Effectiveness of GRADIOR: A Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Program for People with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Dementia. Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial After 4 and 12 Months of Treatment

BACKGROUND

Computer-based cognitive training programs have been developed with promising results on the maintenance/improvement of cognitive performance in people with dementia.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of the cognitive rehabilitation program "GRADIOR" in people with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia.

METHOD

This study was a single-blind multicenter randomized clinical trial. Participants were recruited from hospitals/day centers. The experimental group (EG) and control group (CG) received computer-based cognitive training (CCT) and routine daily care, respectively. Outcome measures at T0: baseline, T1: at 4 months, T2: at 12 months were compared within and between-groups.

RESULTS

Significant differences or important effect sizes were detected at the intragroup and intergroup level for most variables, observing a trend of improvement and/or maintenance at 4 months by Visual Reasoning of Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG), Digit and Arithmetic of WAIS-III, Semantic Verbal Fluency, Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Trail Making Test (TMT)-A-Mistakes and at 12 months by Visual Reasoning of CAMCOG, Digit Symbol of WAIS-III, TMT-B-mistakes, Visual Memory of Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test, Lexical Verbal Fluency-P, Yesavage's Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), TMT-A-time scales whose objective was to evaluate some executive functions and/or the memory. The CG presented a worsening trend for most of the measures towards 12 months. There was also a significant interaction between "time and group" for MMSE (F = 8.971; p = 0.03; η 2 = 0.019) and the GDS (F = 3.414; p = 0.04; η 2 = 0.041), as well as small effect sizes for TMT-A-time (F = 1.641; p = 0.21; η 2 = 0.021) and TMT-A-mistakes (F = 0.908; p = 0.41; η 2 = 0.019).

CONCLUSION

CCT with GRADIOR has been proved to benefit cognitive functions (ISRCTN:15742788).

Healthcare professionals' perception and satisfaction with mental health tele-medicine during the COVID-19 outbreak: A real-world experience in telepsychiatry

BACKGROUND

The use of telemedicine is increasingly being implemented, showing numerous benefits over other methods. A good example of this is the use of telemedicine following the breakdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous experiences with telemedicine (TM) have not been significantly explored in relation to the professionals' own perspectives.

OBJECTIVE

Identify and explore the perceptions and interests of mental health professionals who have performed TM during the period of pandemia.

METHODS

A questionnaire on mental health professionals' perceptions of and satisfaction of TM, the Font Roja Work Satisfaction Questionnaire, was adapted and used. Data collected included 112 Psychiatric Service professionals who conducted TM in March 2020, after the country had been under lockdown for 10 weeks. Over 12.000 medical consultations were carried out by the phone, showing an overwhelming response to this method.

RESULTS

High levels of satisfaction were recorded amongst professionals. TM would function as a complement to the traditional system of face-to-face visits (n-112, f-109, 96.5%). Only 9.7% (f-11) believed that digital or virtual interventions would completely replace face-to-face visits. 60.8% did not consider this monotonous work. The older the health workers were, the more satisfied they felt during their follow-up telephone consultation. The greater the previous experience, the more satisfaction was shown. There were gender differences: female mental health workers reported a greater level of comfort.

CONCLUSION

TM can be implemented with less effort, but it requires time, methods, and resources to be managed. Satisfaction among professionals is high, especially among those with more clinical experience. Patient satisfaction must be contrasted against this.

A Qualitative Study of the Cognitive Rehabilitation Program GRADIOR for People with Cognitive Impairment: Outcomes of the Focus Group Methodology

In recent years, technology has been implemented in the field of interventions for older adults. GRADIOR 4.5 is a cognitive software within the wide variety of available multimedia programs that support healthcare professionals in cognitive assessment and neuropsychological rehabilitation. The study aimed to evaluate the new version of GRADIOR (v4.5) based on the experience of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), people with dementia (PWD), and healthcare professionals. A qualitative study using the focus group methodology was carried out involving 13 people with MCI, 13 PWD, and 11 healthcare professionals. An analysis of the content and the level of feedback was performed. The study showed that GRADIOR 4.5 might be sufficiently adapted to PWD and people with MCI. Participants were motivated to use GRADIOR 4.5, showed high acceptability of the software, and a positive attitude towards technology. However, healthcare professionals suggested significant improvements to the software. GRADIOR 4.5 appeared to be a promising intervention that, because of its positive experience and acceptability, could be systematically implemented to complement cognitive rehabilitation interventions for older adults with MCI and dementia. Finally, it is advisable to consider the suggestions gathered in this study for future developments.

Computer-based cognitive rehabilitation program GRADIOR for mild dementia and mild cognitive impairment: new features

BACKGROUND

The growing number of older people and, with it, the increase of neurological impairments such as dementia has led to the implementation of the use of computer programs for cognitive rehabilitation in people with dementia. For 20 years, we have been developing the GRADIOR cognitive rehabilitation program and conducted several studies associated with its usability and effectiveness. This paper describes the development of the latest version of the GRADIOR computer-based cognitive rehabilitation program for people with different neurological etiologies, especially mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia.

RESULTS

GRADIOR is a program that allows cognitive evaluation and rehabilitation of people affected by cognitive impairment. The new version of GRADIOR is characterized by a structure that is dynamic and flexible for both user and therapist, consisting of: Clinical Manager, Clinical History Manager, Treatment Manager and Report Manager. As a structure based on specific requirements, GRADIOR includes a series of modalities and sub-modalities, each modality comprising a series of exercises with different difficulty levels.

DISCUSSION

Previous studies associated with earlier versions of GRADIOR have allowed the development of a new version of GRADIOR. Taking into account aspects associated with user experience, usability and effectiveness. Aspects that have made it possible to achieve a program that can meet the needs of older people with dementia.

The response of the mental health network of the Salamanca area to the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of the telemedicine

The COVID-19 pandemic reached world-wide causing a great impact on healthcare services. The aim of this work is to describe the response of the Mental Health Network of the Salamanca´ Area (Spain) to this crisis and the reorganization of its resources within the first 8 weeks after the state of alarm was declared. The Psychiatry Service applied a contingency plan which included the reorganization of the human resources, the closure of some of the units and the implementation of telemedicine programs along with two specific programs, namely a mental health assistance program in the context of the infection by coronavirus, and another program for homeless people. 9.038 phone interviews were carried out in the outpatients and community mental health programs. The activity in subacute and acute wards, as well as that of the day hospital programs was decreased to 50%. Based on that this real-world response provided we concluded that the usage of telemedicine is promising in patients with any kind of disorder. Its implementation in daily practice will be considered in the future. Research must continue on COVID-19's impact on patients with mental disorders and Psychiatry's necessary adaptations and new approaches to them.