http://www.frontiersin.org/human_neuroscience/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00353/full?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Neurology-w31-2013
Introduction: There is wide interest in
transferring paper-and-pencil tests to a computer-based setting,
resulting in more precise recording of performance. Here, we
investigated the feasibility of computer-based testing and
computer-based prism adaptation (PA) to ameliorate neglect in sub-acute
stroke patients admitted to a rehabilitation center.
Methods: Thirty-three neglect patients were
included. PA was performed with a pair of goggles with wide-field
point-to-point prismatic lenses inducing an ipsilesional optical shift
of 10°. A variety of digitalized neuropsychological tests were performed
using an interactive tablet immediately before and after PA.
Results: All 33 patients [mean age 60.36 (SD
13.30)], [mean days post-stroke 63.73 (SD 37.74)] were able to work with
the tablet and to understand, perform, and complete the digitalized
tests within the proposed time-frame, indicating that there is
feasibility of computer-based assessment in this stage post-stroke.
Analyses of the efficacy of PA indicated no significant change on any of
the outcome measures, except time.
Discussion: In conclusion, there is feasibility
of computer-based testing in such an early stage, which makes the
computer-based setting a promising technique for evaluating more
ecologically valid tasks. Secondly, the computer-based PA can be
considered as a reliable procedure. We can conclude from our analysis,
addressing the efficacy of PA, that the effectiveness of single session
PA may not be sufficient to produce short-term effects on our static
tasks. Further studies, however, need to be done to evaluate the
computer-based efficacy with more ecologically valid assessments in an
intensive double-blind, sham-controlled multiple PA treatment design.
More at link.
No comments:
Post a Comment