Enhancing an appointment diary on a pocket computer for use by people after brain injury

Abstract

People with memory loss resulting from brain injury benefit from purpose-designed memory aids such as appointment diaries on pocket computers. The present study explores the effects of extending the range of memory aids and including games. For 2 months, 12 people who had sustained brain injury were loaned a pocket computer containing three purpose-designed memory aids: diary, notebook and to-do list. A month later they were given another computer with the same memory aids but a different method of text entry (physical keyboard or touch-screen keyboard). Machine order was counterbalanced across participants. Assessment was by interviews during the loan periods, rating scales, performance tests and computer log files. All participants could use the memory aids and ten people (83%) found them very useful. Correlations among the three memory aids were not significant, suggesting individual variation in how they were used. Games did not increase use of the memory aids, nor did loan of the preferred pocket computer (with physical keyboard). Significantly more diary entries were made by people who had previously used other memory aids, suggesting that a better understanding of how to use a range of memory aids could benefit some people with brain injury.

A training apartment with a set of electronic memory aids for patients with cognitive problems

“…Three of the 14 patients learned how to use these electronic memory aids independently during their stay in the training apartment. It was previously reported (25) that the patients in the present study were interested and motivated to learn how to use the electronic memory aids in the training apartment, which is in line with earlier studies having shown that the learning works best if the patients are motivated to learn how to use the aid and if the aid meets the patients' needs and expectations (4,26,27). Nevertheless, three of the patients were not able to recall completing and confirming the required response on the control panels after four days even with more than five reminders from the OT.…”

Effectiveness of an Upper Extremity Exercise Device and Text Message Reminders to Exercise in Adults with Spina Bifida: A Pilot Study

“…Impairments in executive function were related to the amount of time adolescents and young adults with SB spent in daily physical activities (Roebroeck et al, 2006). Reminder systems utilizing cognitive aids have been used help individuals with memory impairments improve daily function and participate in activity (LoPresti, Bodine, & Lewis, 2008; LoPresti, Simpson, Kirsch, Schreckenghost, & Hayashi, 2008; Wade & Troy, 2001; Wright, Rogers, Hall, Wilson, Evans, & Emslie, 2001; Wright, Rogers, Hall, Wilson, Evans, Emslie, et al, 2001). Mobile phone messages could effectively remind people with cognitive impairments to exercise regularly; however, little research has been conducted on the utility of these wireless technologies to improve participation in PA through simple, inexpensive voice or text message reminders to exercise (Wade & Troy, 2001).…”

Traumatic brain injury: future assessment tools and treatment prospects

“…Research on technologically driven cognitive rehabilitation interventions has examined the impact of a variety of assistive devices and services to provide cues and memory aids for individuals with brain injury and improve cognitive functioning through computerized remediation (Bergman 2003; Gorman et al 2003; Hart et al 2002; Kim et al 2000; Tam et al 2003; van den Broek et al 2000; Wilson et al 2005; Wright et al 2001a, b). For example, the NeuroPage system is an innovative approach that reduces everyday planning and memory problems in individuals with brain injury through the use of pagers to send pre-arranged cues to remind them of tasks that they need to do (eg, take medications or make lunch) (Wilson et al 2001, 2003, 2005).…”

“…In well-designed randomized controlled trials, this simple approach was shown to significantly improve memory performance and reduce healthcare costs (Wilson et al 2001, 2005). However, most of the existing research is not of this caliber, and is composed of small, uncontrolled studies, and case reports (Bergman 2003; Gorman et al 2003; Kim et al 2000; van den Broek et al 2000; Wright et al 2001a, 2001b). Although there is evidence to suggest that many clinicians and individuals with TBI use or are interested in using newer electronic technologies for cognitive rehabilitation, the research literature has yet to explore the possibilities of these methods in any depth (Hart et al 2003; Hart et al 2004; O’Neil-Pirozzi et al 2004).…”