The attention towards robot-assisted therapies (RAT) had grown steadily in recent years particularly for patients with dementia. However, rehabilitation practice using humanoid robots for individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is still a novel method for which the adherence mechanisms, indications and outcomes remain unclear. An effective computing represents a wide range of technological opportunities towards the employment of emotions to improve human-computer interaction. Therefore, the present study addresses the effectiveness of a system in automatically decode facial expression from video-recorded sessions of a robot-assisted memory training lasted two months involving twenty-one participants. We explored the robot’s potential to engage participants in the intervention and its effects on their emotional state. Our analysis revealed that the system is able to recognize facial expressions from robot-assisted group therapy sessions handling partially occluded faces. Results indicated reliable facial expressiveness recognition for the proposed software adding new evidence base to factors involved in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). The use of a humanoid robot as a mediating tool appeared to promote the engagement of participants in the training program. Our findings showed positive emotional responses for females. Tasks affects differentially affective involvement. Further studies should investigate the training components and robot responsiveness.
The purposes of the present study were to examine: a) the most relevant sources of workplace pressure for nurses; b) gender and age differences in occupational stressors; c) wh ich co mbination of sources of stress, ways of coping, Type A style and locus of control was the best predictor of job satisfaction and both physical and mental health; Data were collected amongst 976 nurses employed in seven public hospital in Northern Italy, who co mp leted the Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI). Results suggested that turnover and amount of work were the most relevant sources of stress. Perceived stressors were higher for female who felt themselves less healthy than their male colleagues, which used non-working time to disperse stress. Statistical analysis produced significant differences in perceived occupational stressors among age ranges. Multivariate analysis for total sample revealed organizational factors and relationships with people the best predictors of job satisfaction and both physical and mental health, respectively. Co mparisons with O.S.I. normat ive Italian data showed several differences in perceived sources of pressure and occupational stress outcomes. Implications of the findings and limitat ions of the study are discussed in terms of possible targets for action aimed to enhancing quality of the work environment relationships and nurse satisfaction.
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