Biomedical subjects

Alex Mihailidis

Publications and source records attributed to Alex Mihailidis.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

A planning system based on Markov decision processes to guide people with dementia through activities of daily living.

Older adults with dementia often cannot remember how to complete activities of daily living and require a caregiver to aid them through the steps involved. The use of a computerized guidance system could potentially reduce the reliance on a caregiver. This paper examines the design and preliminary evaluation of a planning system that uses Markov decision processes (MDPs) to determine when and how to provide prompts to a user with dementia for guidance through the activity of handwashing. Results from the study suggest that MDPs can be applied effectively to this type of guidance problem. Considerations for the development of future guidance systems are presented.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2005

An intelligent emergency response system: preliminary development and testing of automated fall detection.

We have designed an intelligent emergency response system to detect falls in the home. It uses image-based sensors. A pilot study was conducted using 21 subjects to evaluate the efficacy and performance of the fall-detection component of the system. Trials were conducted in a mock-up bedroom setting, with a bed, a chair and other typical bedroom furnishings. A small digital videocamera was installed in the ceiling at a height of approximately 2.6 m. The digital camera covered an area of approximately 5.0 m x 3.8 m. The subjects were asked to assume a series of postures, namely walking/standing, sitting/lying down in an inactive zone, stooping, lying down in a 'stretched' position, and lying down in a 'tucked' position. These five scenarios were repeated three times by each subject in a random order. These test positions totalled 315 tasks with 126 fall-simulated tasks and 189 non-fall-simulated tasks. The system detected a fall on 77% of occasions and missed a fall on 23%. False alarms occurred on only 5% of occasions. The results encourage the potential use of a vision-based system to provide safety and security in the homes of the elderly.

Accidental Falls↗

PubMed2004

The use of computer vision in an intelligent environment to support aging-in-place, safety, and independence in the home.

This paper discusses the use of computer vision in pervasive healthcare systems, specifically in the design of a sensing agent for an intelligent environment that assists older adults with dementia during an activity of daily living. An overview of the techniques applied in this particular example is provided, along with results from preliminary trials completed using the new sensing agent. A discussion of the results obtained to date is presented, including technical and social issues that remain for the advancement and acceptance of this type of technology within pervasive healthcare.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Assistive computing devices: a pilot study to explore nurses' preferences and needs.

Healthcare errors among nurses are common because of the fast-paced work environment, in which extensive data must be analyzed and quick decision making is required. Assistive computing devices can help reduce nursing errors by providing timely access to client information and by assisting nurses with client monitoring, decision making, and bedside documentation. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine what assistive computing device features, functions, and input/output modalities nurses would find most useful as support for their nursing duties. Twenty nurses completed a questionnaire that examined their needs and preferences. Data analysis revealed a strong desire for capabilities related to facilitating information access and administering safe medication. The results of this study will be used to develop design criteria for an assistive computing device that will aim to improve the performance of nurses through appropriate information and data support.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The use of automated prompting to facilitate handwashing in persons with dementia.

As the number of people living with dementia increases, occupational therapists are challenged with finding innovative, evidence-based ways to enable daily occupations. The use of computer technology is explored in this study as one potential intervention for this population. An automated prompting system was modified to provide both verbal and audiovisual prompts, and 8 participants with Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE) scores as low as 3/30 were followed over 60 trials to determine which prompting method was more effective in reducing caregiver interactions. Overall, the participants were able to complete more steps with the assistance of either automated prompt and required fewer caregiver interactions. Audiovisual prompting significantly reduced the number of caregiver interactions required. These results lend further support to the use of an automated prompting system but suggest that there are individual factors influencing the efficacy of the prompting mode, for which occupational therapists are well suited to assess and monitor.

Aged↗