Biomedical subjects

Laura A Cushman

Publications and source records attributed to Laura A Cushman.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Predictors of assistive technology use: the importance of personal and psychosocial factors.

OBJECTIVE: To validate an assistive technology (AT) baseline and outcomes measure and to quantify the measure's value in determining the best match of consumer and AT considering consumer ratings of their subjective quality of life, mood, support from others, motivation for AT use, program/therapist reliance, and self-determination/self-esteem. DESIGN: Prospective multi-cohort study. SETTING: Vocational rehabilitation offices and community. PARTICIPANTS: Over 150 vocational rehabilitation counselors in 25 U.S. states with one consumer each receiving new AT. INTERVENTIONS: Counselor training in the Matching Person and Technology (MPT) Model and consumer completion of the MPT measure, Assistive Technology Device Predisposition Assessment (ATD PA). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total and subscale scores on the ATD PA as well as counselor-completed questionnaires. RESULTS: ATD PA items differentiated consumer predispositions to AT use as well as AT and user match. There were no significant differences due to gender, physical locality, or age within this sample of working-age adult consumers. Vocational rehabilitation counselors exposed to training in the MPT Model achieved enhanced AT service delivery outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The ATD PA is a valid measure of predisposition to use an AT and the subsequent match of AT and user. Rehabilitation practitioners who use the ATD PA will achieve evidence-based practice and can expect to see enhanced AT service delivery outcomes.

Persons with Disabilities↗

PubMed2003

Spatial disorientation in Alzheimer's disease: the remembrance of things passed.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and many older adults become lost even in familiar surroundings. This is commonly attributed to memory impairment, but it may reflect impaired spatial cognition. METHODS: The authors examined the role of memory, perceptual, and cognitive mechanisms in spatial disorientation by comparing the performance of normal young (YN), middle-aged (MA), older adult (OA), and AD subjects on neuropsychological and spatial orientation tests. RESULTS: The tendency to become lost is shared by almost all patients with AD (93%) and some OA subjects (38%). This impairment is not related to memory impairment. Instead, it reflects an inability to link recognized scenes with locations in the environment. CONCLUSIONS: Spatial disorientation reflects the impaired linking of landmarks and routes that should be assessed in conjunction with routine memory testing in elderly patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

A pilot study of perceived needs of persons with new spinal cord injury.

Persons with new spinal cord injury have varying perceptions of their own needs in multiple life domains such as readiness and need to use assistive technologies, but these are often not directly addressed. These areas were the focus of the present study. This descriptive study looked at subjective need in a variety of areas with a new measure and also assessed perceptions related to assistive technology and quality of life. Perceptions of various needs were compared at baseline and at 1- and 6-mo. follow-up. The Perceived Needs Inventory, the Assistive Technology Device Predisposition Assessment, and the Diener Satisfaction with Life Scale were the main outcome measures given 22 patients with new injuries in an inpatient service for acute spinal cord injury with community follow-up. As the Perceived Needs Inventory provided distinct information and showed good test-reliability and some evidence of construct validity, it may be a useful adjunctive tool with such patients.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Determining the content for an interactive training programme and interpretive guidelines for the Assistive Technology Device Predisposition Assessment.

PURPOSE: Develop the content for interpretive guidelines and an interactive training programme for professionals administering the Assistive Technology Device Predisposition Assessment (ATD PA) consumer form, a self-report assessment tool for consumers to identify their perceived functional capabilities and limitations, satisfaction with and priorities for quality of life achievement, psychosocial characteristics and device preferences. METHOD: Twenty-two professionals (with 1-2 consumers each) completed surveys on their use of the ATD PA and recommendations for interpretive guidelines and an interactive training programme. Participants represent eight US states and the country of Italy. Fourteen women and eight men (professionals) participated, and 20% of the sample was comprised of US consumers from Hispanic or African-American ethnic groups. Professionals represented the following disciplines: occupational therapy (n=1); physical therapy (n=1); rehabilitation engineering (n=4); and vocational rehabilitation counselling (n=16). Additionally, an advisory committee of 14 persons was formed, comprising consumers as well as international AT experts. The committee members prioritized content areas for the training programme and interpretive guidelines. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Responses strongly support the need for and the continued development of the training programme and interpretive guidelines. Content areas have been identified and prioritized.

Persons with Disabilities↗