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PubMed2006

Evaluation of an application for making palmtop computers accessible to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Palmtop computers provide a promising mobile platform to address barriers to computer-based supports for people with intellectual disabilities. This study evaluated a specially designed interface to make navigation and features of palmtop computers more accessible to users with intellectual disabilities. METHOD: The specialised cognitively accessible interface was compared with a standard Windows CE interface. Participants completed a structured set of navigation/computer use tasks using both the experimental and control conditions. Measurements included the amount of assistance needed and errors made in completing the navigation/computer use tasks. RESULTS: Participants (N = 32) made significantly fewer errors (p<.001) and required significantly fewer prompts (p<.001) while using the specialised software interface compared to the mainstream Windows interface. CONCLUSIONS: The research demonstrates the feasibility of using special software design methods, such as linear program flows, error minimisation and the incorporation of repetition and consistency, to improve access to palmtop computers for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Issues related to designing cognitively accessible interfaces are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Does the acoustic waveform mirror the voice?

Over recent decades, much effort has been invested in the search for acoustic correlates of vocal function and dysfunction. The convenience of non-invasive voice measurements has been a major incentive for this effort. The acoustic signal is a rich but also very diversified source of information. Computer literacy and technical curiosity in the voice care and voice performance communities are now higher than ever, and tools for voice analysis are proliferating. On such a busy scene, a review may be useful of some basic principles for what we can and cannot hope to determine from non-invasive acoustic analysis. One way of doing this is to consider communication by voice as though it were engineered, with layered protocols. This results in a scheme for systematizing the many sources of variation that are present in the acoustic signal, that can complement other strategies for extracting information.

Humans↗
PubMed2004

Use of on-line evidence databases by Australian public health practitioners.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate use of a web-based portal, known as the Clinical Information Access Program (CIAP), and evidence databases in an Australian population health workforce. METHODS: Self-administered postal survey of 104 staff in a regional Division of Population Health in Sydney, Australia. The main outcome measures were CIAP use and organization support for CIAP use. Two thirds of the respondents agreed that using CIAP was a legitimate part of their practice. However, half agreed that staff were encouraged to use it. One in five respondents (21%) used CIAP weekly. CIAP use was significantly associated with medical qualification or, among non-medical staff, with having at least a Masters qualification. CIAP use was not associated with occupational category, gender, age, employment status nor years of experience. Use of specific evidence databases such as Cochrane also differed significantly by respondents' characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: There has been only partial uptake of on-line databases among this population health workforce, particularly according to attainment of relevant postgraduate qualifications. As CIAP is a resource for evidence-based practice, greater effort to increase its use is recommended to ensure population health does not fall behind hospital-based clinicians.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Assessing internet survey data collection methods with ethnic nurse shift workers.

An increasing number of ethnic minorities are expected to enter the United States workforce based on projected demographic changes. This includes American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) nurses. Sociocultural influences on sleep disturbances, sleepiness, and other aspects related to shift-work tolerance are of unrecognized importance. More minority nurses are needed to provide culturally congruent care; however, AI/AN nurses represent less than 1% of nurses located throughout the American workforce. This article aims to verify the feasibility of Internet data collection (Web-based survey) methods and instrument stability as the first part of a two-phase study comparing individual differences and shift-work-related sleep disturbances between AI/AN and White non-Hispanic (WNH) nurses. In the first phase, an Internet survey was used to reach a cross-section of AI/AN and WNH nurses. The on-line survey was composed of accepted shift-work-related instruments. Items estimating sleep disturbances, sociocultural choices, time awareness, polychronicity, morningness/ eveningness, ethnic identity, and demographic questions were asked. The survey was linked to a series of Web pages describing the study purpose, inclusion and exclusion criteria, consent form, Web survey, and the second phase of the study in which subjects were invited to participate in actigraphy measurements. The survey was pilot-tested for error codes, item confusion, length, and completion time. Forced-answer questions were added asking ethnicity, age group, license type, state where licensed, and legal name on nursing license before accessing the survey. Data were saved periodically, cued by the word "continue." The database was located on a secure server and password protected. Nurses were recruited using published articles and printed advertisements, hospital e-mail systems, national nursing organization Web sites (minoritynurse.com; NANAINA.org), nursing Web site discussion groups, snow-balling, and word of mouth. The site was accessed 656 times with the Internet survey being completed by 138 WNH and 56 AI/AN nurses meeting the inclusion criteria. Except for the polychronicity measure (PAI3), instruments measuring time awareness, chronotype, and situational sleepiness achieved acceptable reliability coefficients with Internet data collection. Using pull-down menus would improve questions asking specific times. Internet data collection with different ethnic groups is possible; however, accessing the target population may be difficult. Despite extensive recruitment efforts, few AI/AN nurses participated. Computer literacy and failing to relate to the study's purpose may have limited the interest of the AI/AN nurses. It is possible to recruit nurse shift workers and collect individual difference and sleep disturbance data through the Internet; however, the researcher must remain vigilant throughout the process.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Unsubscribe, pleeezz!!!: management and training of media competence in computer-mediated communication.

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) has created a new communication divide. Mostly, this division is due to technical and access problems. Overlooked is yet another divide in terms of user communication competence. This contribution focuses on media competence based on theories about communication competence and theories about CMC. Two field studies are presented: an analysis of a virtual seminar chat communication (22 participants, 3 weeks' duration) and an analysis of unsubscribe-failures within 2 years of a German mailing list (average of 1,000 subscriptions). Data from both studies reveal that help-seeking CMC users with low media-specific competence experience setbacks in terms of interpersonal relations and information gathering. There is a spiral of neutral to negative reactions and an increase in stress and aggression-related language in the reaction of the addressed peers. From the perspective of external raters, we found a contraintuitive result: The style, content, and wording of the message of the respondent is considered as an indicator for a less competent and socially attractive person behind the follow-up message than those of the initial message. On the one hand, media experts are needed and appreciated as technical problem-solvers; on the other hand, they might be perceived as socially narrow-minded freaks who are less interested in the task itself than in CMC-based task completion. This leads to the question of how sensibility for the social context, task orientation, and media competence can be combined (and trained for) in one person. Two competence trainings for text-based synchronous and asynchronous communication are introduced as interventions.

Communications Media↗
PubMed2004

Factors that influence presence in educational virtual environments.

The present article is a part of a project for the measurement of presence in educational virtual environments (VEs), since presence is correlated with higher levels of cognitive performance and emotional development, factors that contribute to knowledge construction. The aim of our study was to investigate the sense of presence of 12-year-old pupils within an educational VE representing an ancient Greek house through a sense of embodiment and the ability to handle task performance, while using various peripheral devices. This is the first report on presence measurement with children, based on the indication that children and adults may apply very unrelated criteria. Our results showed statistically significant differences on the level of tiredness and ease of use in using six different input devices. The combination of the keyboard and mouse and the keyboard on its own were the least tedious and easiest input devices, giving a sense of presence as stated by the pupils. Environmental richness and the high level of interactivity within the VE resulted in a high degree of presence for almost all the pupils. The majority of them felt a sense of presence whilst driving the avatar, indicating that presence is significantly correlated with pupils' degree of association with their virtual bodies. All the pupils felt a sense of presence when wearing the head-mounted display. Our findings are in line with those of other researchers and show evidence of personal, social and environmental presence.

Association Learning↗
PubMed2005

Gender and information and communication technologies (ICT) anxiety: male self-assurance and female hesitation.

This article presents the results of a quantitative study (n = 1,058) of the gender divide in ICT attitudes. In general, females had more negative attitudes towards computers and the Internet than did men. Results indicate a positive relationship between ICT experience and ICT attitudes. This experience is measured by period of time using a computer and self-perceived computer and Internet experience. Further analyses on the impact of gender on this correlation of ICT experience and ICT attitudes were conducted by means of a multivariate model. General Linear Model (GLM) analysis revealed that there was a significant effect of gender, computer use, and self-perceived computer experience on computer anxiety attitudes, as well as several significant interaction effects. Males were found to have less computer anxiety than females; respondents who have used computers for a longer period of time and respondents with a higher self-perception of experience also show less computer anxiety. However, the GLM plot shows that the influence of computer experience works in different ways for males and females. Computer experience has a positive impact on decreasing computer anxiety for men, but a similar effect was not found for women. The model was also tested for computer liking and Internet-liking factors.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Systematic evaluation of current control devices used by people with intellectual disabilities in non-immersive virtual environments.

Virtual environments have a role to play in facilitating the acquisition of living skills in people with intellectual disabilities, improving their cognitive skills and providing them with entertainment. However, the currently recommended devices to allow navigation in and interaction with the environments are difficult to use. Using a methodology established in an earlier study, the study aims to systematically document the performance of users with the currently recommended devices in order to (i) inform the design of a usable control device or devices and (ii) act as a baseline against which they can be evaluated. 40 people with severe intellectual disabilities aged 21-67 years used four environments with an equal number of sessions with the different devices being evaluated. Results indicate that when forward movement is provided by the software using the mouse for both navigation and interaction allows better performance both initially and after exposure than using the fire button on the joystick. When the user had to initiate forward movement with the navigation device, the joystick allowed better performance than the arrows on the keyboard. Preventing slippage of the joystick base would make its use much easier and it is suggested that separate devices are retained for navigation and interaction.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Acquisition and application of new technology skills: the influence of age.

This paper reviews the literature relating to the effects of ageing on the acquisition and application of new technology skills. Experiential, physiological, and cognitive factors are identified that place older adults at a disadvantage, relative to younger adults, when using new technologies. Consistent with this position, experimental evidence indicates an advantage for younger adults in speed of task performance, coupled with a tendency toward greater accuracy. The possibility that these differences can be overcome by means of training intervention is considered. However, it seems that age differences in performance persist, regardless of a training regime. Although some older adults are capable of high levels of performance, these tend to be individuals of high cognitive ability, relative to their peers. When age group means are considered, the only way that older adults are able to equal the performance of younger adults on new technology tasks is through additional practice.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Keeping current: computer basics for gastroenterology nurses.

The computer age is here! However, many nurses are not using available computer technology. As the uses of computers increase in work, home, and community settings, nurses need to "keep up with the times." This article provides the gastroenterology nurse with a historical perspective on computer technology, some basic information on computers and computer resources, and encourages the nurse to become computer literature. Gastroenterology nurses need to use computer technology to enhance patient care.

Attitude to Computers↗
PubMed1995

Using electronic mail for a small-group curriculum in ethical and social issues.

PURPOSE: To initiate an electronic mail (e-mail) program as a supplement to a medical humanities curriculum focusing on ethical and social issues. METHOD: In 1991-92 an e-mail track (called NET) was established for second-year students participating in Medicine in Contemporary Society, a four-year curriculum in medical humanities at the State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Medicine. In 1991-92 ten students volunteered to form a NET group; in 1992-93 22 students, forming two groups, were randomly selected from a volunteer pool of 76 students (from a class of 100). In both study years, the NET students analyzed and discussed electronically a series of cases posted sequentially through the academic year. Faculty tutors reviewed the students' responses, interacting with the groups and with individual students by e-mail. NET was evaluated in two ways: at the end of the course, the students completed e-mail questionnaires that included quantitative and qualitative assessments; and throughout the course, the tutors assessed the students' participation, quality of case analysis and discussion, and quality of writing. RESULTS: The students' assessments indicated that they considered NET to be more educational than the lectures, "live" group discussions, problem-based learning exercises, and formal papers in the medical humanities curriculum; that they made gains in computer literacy; and that NET enhanced their abilities to think about ethical and social issues. The tutors judged that the students had improved their written self-expression as the course progressed. CONCLUSION: NET adequately accomplished the goals set for it as an adjunct to the small-group sessions and other components of the medical humanities curriculum.

Attitude↗
PubMed1999

The InterCon network: a program for education partnerships at the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center.

The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center (UT-Houston) has created programs and activities to address the state's pressing needs in minority education. Through InterCon, a network of universities and K-12 schools, UT-Houston works with its partners to identify competitive candidates in the current pool of minority graduates with bachelor's degrees and to help them--along with their non-minority counterparts--progress in their education. Another objective is to expand the pool of minorities underrepresented in medicine who complete high school and go to college. In 1994 UT-Houston and Prairie View A&M University created a collaborative venture to provide new educational opportunities at UT-Houston for Prairie View's predominantly African American students. A three-track summer internship program--a result of that collaboration--has since been expanded to partnerships with other minority and majority universities throughout Texas. In 1998, for example, 108 undergraduate students from these universities (and 40 other universities nationwide) participated in research, professional, and administrative summer internships at UT-Houston. The InterCon network also has partnerships with K-12 schools. UT-Houston works with inner-city, suburban, and rural school districts to develop education models that can be transferred throughout the state. The partnerships deal with helping to teach basic academic skills and computer literacy, improve science-related instruction, meet demands for health promotion materials and information for school-initiated health and wellness programs, and develop distance-learning paradigms. UT-Houston views InterCon as a program helping Texas institutions to engage and adapt to the socioeconomic factors, demographic changes, and technology explosion that currently challenge public education.

Community-Institutional Relations↗
PubMed2004

Computer use among community-based primary care physician preceptors.

PURPOSE: Use of the Internet to access biomedical information in patient care has important implications in medical education. Little is known about how community-based clinical teachers use computers in their offices and what factors, such as age, may influence use. METHOD: A total of 178 active community-based primary care preceptors were mailed a 15-item questionnaire about their computer equipment; Internet use; and specific applications in patient care, patients' education, medical students' or residents' education, or accessing other clinical and/or research information. Data analysis used descriptive statistics, chi-square for comparisons of categorical data and analysis of variance (ANOVA) mixed model for comparisons of continuous variables. All tests were two-tailed with alpha set at.05 to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: In all, 129 preceptors responded (73%). Office computer availability was high (92%). The Internet as a clinical information resource was used most frequently (98%) and MD Consult and Medline-EBM were used less frequently (20% and 21%, respectively). No statistical differences were found in routine use by age of preceptor; frequency of use did differ. Preceptors 60 years or older were four times more likely to use the Internet to assist in students' and residents' education (p =.02) and at least twice as likely to use full text Medline articles for patient care decisions (p =.05) than their younger colleagues. Decreased computer use was related to lack of time (45%) or other logistical reasons (40%), such as the computer's distance from the patient care areas or slow connections. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of computer access and Internet connectivity were high among community-based preceptors of all ages. Uses of specific online clinical and/or educational resources varied by preceptors' age with more rather than less use among older preceptors, an unexpected finding.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Implementing Essentials of Critical Care Orientation: one hospital's experience with an online critical care course.

Critical care is a specialty area that requires a significant investment of time and money for clinical and classroom learning. One solution for learning that is flexible and cost-effective is the American Association of Critical Care Nurses' Essentials of Critical Care Orientation (ECCO). ECCO lays the theoretical groundwork for nurses to practice safely in critical care. Utilization of ECCO in one community hospital has been a 3-year process, which is continually refined by the critical care education team. Advantages to using ECCO include that it is self-paced, maintained by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, and allows learners to flex their time and location for learning. Obstacles encountered include difficulties associated with computer learning, lack of hard copy notes, lack of face-to-face time interaction between orientees and education staff, increased work load for one education staff member, and keeping learners on track with their time and orientation. This article describes one hospital's experience with implementation of ECCO as the classroom portion of orientation to several critical care units.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A critical change in a day in the life of intensive care nurses: rising to the e-challenge of an integrated clinical information system.

Critical care nurses in a large academic, tertiary care trauma center have adapted to a major system change since the implementation of a fully integrated Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) system, an automated process of order entry. Working in a rapidly changing environment, clinicians are accustomed to viewing real-time discrete data and then using that data to provide safe, effective, and efficient intensive care to critically ill patients. This article describes how the implementation of the CPOE system from a major healthcare software vendor has changed the life of critical care nurses and the perceptions of the experience 1 year after the new technology was initiated. Through experience sharing, perhaps others may gain knowledge to ease their transition to CPOE.

Adult↗