Digital Commons Network^™

Stroke Incidence, Mortality And Disability-Adjusted Life Years (Dalys) Trends In Association With Air Pollution, Dietary And Metabolic Risk Factors In Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: Global Burden Of Disease Data Based Analysis 1990-2021, Bandar N. Aljafen, Anusha S. Meo, N. Shaikh, Sultan A. Meo

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To identify the primary risk factors contributing to stroke incidents and deaths, analyzing the trends and changes in regional stroke statistics between 1990 and 2021 in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Methods: This longitudinal time trend study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from June to August 2024. The data were recorded from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) datasets. The incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates of stroke in the GCC countries, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, …

Characterization And Management Of Pain Across Phases Of Intraosseous Infusion In Emergency Department Patients With Non-Cardiac Arrest, Aiping Shi, Juan Chen, Xiaowei He, Chunyan Chen, Ming Sun, Wei Li, Wenxia Xu, Wei Yang, Xiaoqin Han

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To identify risk factors for moderate-to-severe pain during intraosseous infusion (IOI) in non-cardiac arrest patients in the emergency department (ED). Secondary aims include evaluating pain trajectory across procedural stages and assessing the efficacy of a personalized pain management strategy. Methods: This mixed-methods study analyzed 220 ED patients undergoing IOI (150 retrospective, 70 prospective). The prospective cohort was randomized to standard care (n=35) or personalized pain management (n=35). Pain was quantified using the numeric rating scale (NRS) and critical-care pain observation tool (CPOT). Results: During puncture, 35.33% (53/150) reported no/mild pain. Pain severity peaked during flushing, with 73.33% (110/150) …

Screen Time, Physical Activity, And Vo₂Max In Indonesian Vocational School Adolescents (Aged 15–17): A Cross-Sectional Study, Cahyo Wibowo, Yahya Eko Nopiyanto, Angkit Kinasih, Asarya Reno Kombong, Dian Pujianto, Bayu Insanistyo

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Physical activity and screen time influence many adolescent' fitness problems. This research aims to determine the relationship between screen time and physical activity on adolescent students' cardio-respiratory endurance (VO2max). This research used observational analysis with a cross-sectional study involving 70 teenage students at an Information and Network Technology Vocational School consisting of male and female teenage students. The Screen Time of Adolescents (QUEST) questionnaire was used to assess screen time, the physical activity instrument used the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ v2.0) to assess physical activity levels, and the VO2max instrument used the 20-meter Multistage Fitness Test (MFT). The data …

Association Between Suboptimal Health Status And Academic Performance: A Cross-Sectional Study Of 1,028 Medical Students In Punjab, Pakistan, Maleha Asim, Misbah Malik, Aneela Jamil, Raheela Yasmin, Ghazala Jawwad, Wajahat Ullah Khan

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: Suboptimal health status (SHS) refers to the transitional period between health and illness, characterized by unexplained symptoms and premature changes in functional status without a known medical diagnosis. Objective: The aim is to examine how often SHS occurs and how lifestyle factors influence both SHS and the academic success of medical students. Methods: A Cross-sectional survey was conducted from February 2024 to September 2024 with first- to fifth-year medical students from four randomly chosen medical colleges in Punjab, Pakistan. The Suboptimal Health Measurement Scale (SHMS V1.0), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Scale (HPLS) were used to …

A New Multisystem Ercc1-Hepatorenal Syndrome: Insights From A Clinical Cohort, Molecular Pathogenesis, And Management Guidelines., Susan M. White, Annelotte P. Wondergem, Isa Breet, Maren Dittmaier, Katrina Bell, Christopher M. Richmond, Winita Hardikar, Kanika Bhatia, Catherine Quinlan, David Orchard, Areetha D'Souza, Walter J. Chazin, Christopher Smith, Rebecca Sparkes, Simon Lam, Alexandra Carter, Robert J. Hopkin, Leticia Khendek, Bonnie Sullivan, Naja Becher, Anne Katrine W. Simonsen, Helene Kvistgaard, Katherine Dempsey, Alexander G. Miethke, Pernille Axél Gregersen, Eliza Phillips, Martijn S. Luijsterburg

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

DNA repair disorders are a group of conditions characterized by progressive, multisystem phenotypes. Defining new clinical presentations of these disorders is essential for optimizing patient care. ERCC1-XPF is a multifunctional endonuclease involved in nucleotide excision repair (NER) and interstrand crosslink (ICL) repair. We sought to define a novel multisystem phenotype associated with biallelic ERCC1 variants and impaired DNA repair. Through international collaboration, we identified seven individuals from five families carrying biallelic ERCC1 variants, including p.Arg156Trp and p.Ala266Pro, who exhibited a distinct clinical phenotype. All individuals presented with growth restriction, photosensitivity, and kidney and liver dysfunction. Notably, three children required liver …

Associations Among Human Milk Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids And Infant Sleep Patterns: A Cross-Sectional Study, Ana M Palacios, Dominick J Lemas, Bridget E Young, Erik Parker, Stephanie Dickinson, Nandi Marshall, Kelly L Sullivan, Haley Wilt, Michelle I Cardel, David B Allison

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Infant sleep is critical for cognitive, emotional, and long-term health outcomes. Although diet-sleep relationships are established, limited research has explored how polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in human milk (HM) relate to infant sleep.

Objectives: This study aims to examine associations between PUFAs in HM and sleep patterns in 2-mo-old infants exclusively fed with HM.

Methods: This cross-sectional secondary analysis used data from a lactation cookie trial involving 131 parents of healthy, term infants. Participants provided a fasting HM sample and completed sociodemographic and Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire surveys. Multivariate linear models were adjusted for infant sex assigned at birth, …

All-Cause And Cause-Specific Mortality Among Patients With Narcolepsy., Chih-Wei Hsu, Yen-Shan Yang, Yang-Chieh Brian Chen, Liang-Jen Wang, Mu-Hong Chen, Yao-Hsu Yang, Chih-Sung Liang, Edward Chia-Cheng Lai

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Importance: Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder potentially affecting mortality, yet evidence on this association remains sparse.

Objective: To examine whether narcolepsy is associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

Design, setting, and participants: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from 2001 to 2021, with patients followed up until death or December 31, 2022. Patients were aged 6 years or older with 2 or more narcolepsy diagnoses from psychiatrists or neurologists. Controls were selected from the NHIRD as a population-based sample. Controls without narcolepsy were matched in a 1:4 …

Menopause Factors And Alterations In Gut Microbiota And Insulin Homeostasis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of The Microbiome And Insulin Longitudinal Evaluation Study (Miles), Vincent J Maffei, Alain G Bertoni, Alexis C Wood, Jerome I Rotter, Osa Crago, Yii-Der I Chen, Joseph F Petrosino, Kristi L Hoffman, Mark O Goodarzi, Elizabeth T Jensen

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Aim: To assess the risk for impaired insulin homeostasis as a function of menopause-related factors and gut microbiota dysbiosis in non-diabetic, post-menopausal women.

Materials and methods: Baseline data (n = 175 women) from the Microbiome and Insulin Longitudinal Evaluation Study (MILES) were used, including insulin and dysglycaemia indices calculated from a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test, untargeted peripheral metabolomics, targeted peripheral short chain fatty-acid levels and faecal bacterial microbiota surveyed by whole-metagenomic sequencing.

Results: After adjustment for covariates, menopause age < 50 years and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were associated with lower Matsuda et al. insulin sensitivity index levels (β = -0.232, confidence interval (CI) = [-0.450, -0.014] and β = -0.275, CI = [-0.444, -0.107], respectively) but not pre-menopausal gynaecologic surgery. Pre-menopausal gynaecologic surgery was significantly associated with faecal microbiota beta diversity driven by a relative increase in diabetogenic Ruminococcus gnavus and Clostridium species and a decrease in protective Alistipes species and Akkermansia muciniphila relative abundances. A reduction in two glycerophospholipids in the plasmalogen class significantly statistically mediated an inverse association between gynaecologic surgery before menopause and insulin sensitivity.

Conclusions: Menopause age and history of HRT are more strongly associated with insulin resistance than gynaecologic surgery before menopause. However, …

From Holistic To Localized: Local Enhanced Adapters For Efficient Visual Instruction Fine-Tuning, Pengkun Jiao, Bin Zhu, Jingjing Chen, Chong-Wah Ngo, Yugang Jiang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Efficient Visual Instruction Fine-Tuning (EVIT) seeks to adapt Multimodal Large Language Models (MLLMs) to downstream tasks with minimal computational overhead. However, as task diversity and complexity increase, EVIT faces significant challenges in resolving data conflicts. To address this limitation, we propose the Dual Low-Rank Adaptation (Dual-LoRA), a holistic-to-local framework that enhances the adapter’s capacity to address data conflict through dual structural optimization. Specifically, we utilize two subspaces: a skill space for stable, holistic knowledge retention, and a rank-rectified task space that locally activates the holistic knowledge. Additionally, we introduce Visual Cue Enhancement (VCE), a multi-level local feature aggregation module designed …

Exploring Object Status Recognition For Recipe Progress Tracking In Non-Visual Cooking, Franklin Mingzhe Li, Kaitlyn Ng, Bin Zhu, Patrick Carrington

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Cooking plays a vital role in everyday independence and well-being, yet remains challenging for people with vision impairments due to limited support for tracking progress and receiving contextual feedback. Object status — the condition or transformation of ingredients and tools — offers a promising but underexplored foundation for context-aware cooking support. In this paper, we present OSCAR (Object Status Context Awareness for Recipes), a technical pipeline that explores the use of object status recognition to enable recipe progress tracking in non-visual cooking. OSCAR integrates recipe parsing, object status extraction, visual alignment with cooking steps, and time-causal modeling to support real-time …

Advancing University Student Health And Wellbeing Through Peer-Led Health Promotion: A Quality Improvement Project​ ​, Rojeda Merani, Elizabeth Page, Elizabeth Roth

DNP Projects

Background: Peer-led health promotion is widely recognized as an effective strategy for increasing engagement, trust, and health literacy among university students. However, few frameworks guide development and implementation of these programs.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, implementation process, and perceived effectiveness of a peer-led health promotion model supported by Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) mentorship at a mid-sized private university.

Participants: Thirteen undergraduate students from a diverse set of academic programs were recruited as Peer Health Ambassadors (PHAs) and paired with DNP student mentors.

Methods: Guided by the Implementation Research Logic Model, the project used a four-phase QI process: targeted …

¡Charlemos De Comida Y Cultura En España!, Lucia Osa-Melero

Open Education Materials

¡Charlemos de comida y cultura en España! is a culturally immersive Spanish language textbook designed for intermediate- high level learners who wish to explore the rich and diverse culinary traditions of Spain while enhancing their linguistic skills. Organized thematically by culinary concepts, this text blends language instruction with cultural insights to provide a meaningful and engaging learning experience while developing communicative skills and intercultural learning. Each chapter introduces students to regional specialties, food-related vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and authentic readings and videos that reflect the traditions, values, and social common practices surrounding food in Spain.

Myplate For Healthy Diet And Physical Activity: A Pilot Project, Christin Sullivan

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background: Over 100 million American adults are obese. This has increased from 38.5% in 2013-2016 to 41.8% in 2017-2020 and is predicted to keep rising. Significant health risks are linked to obesity, prompting weight loss movements at the local, national and global level. Recently, Semaglutide has been favored in weight loss programs but must be augmented by education on healthy diet and physical activity for weight reduction and maintenance.

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to pilot the MyPlate method on healthy diet and physical activity and determine its effects on patient knowledge of healthy diet and physical …

In Support Of Free Speech On Food Production, Nicole Ligon

Penn State Law Review (2003 - Present)

No abstract provided.

The Anchor: October 2025, Hope College

The Anchor: 2025

The Anchor began in 1887 and was first issued weekly in 1914. Covering national and campus news alike, Hope College’s student-run newspaper has grown over the years to encompass over two-dozen editors, reporters, and staff. For much of The Anchor's history, the latest issue was distributed across campus each Wednesday throughout the academic school year (with few exceptions). In recent years The Anchor moved to monthly print issues and a more frequently updated website. The Anchor is now published in print twice per academic semester. Occasionally, the volume and/or issue numbering is irregular.

The Bulletin: Sidney Kimmel Medical College At Thomas Jefferson University, Volume 103, Issue 2, Fall 2025

The Bulletin (formerly the Jefferson Medical College Alumni Bulletin)

This issue includes:

• 5 - Dean’s Column
• 6 - Time Machine
• 12 - ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
• 18 - Medicine Rooted in Connection by Scott Orlov, SKMC Class of 2026
• 20 - All in the Family by Takami Sato, MD, PhD, and Rino Seedor, MD ’15
• 24 - When Jefferson and Medicine Struck Gold by Geno J. Merli, MD ’75, RES ’78 and ’80
• 28 - Alumni Weekend Recap
• 32 - Born a Jeffersonian by William Valentine Harrer, MD ’62
• 35 - Class Ambassadors
• 36 - A Message From the SKMC Alumni Board President
• 38 - Class Notes …

Investigating Machine Learning Algorithms To Classify Label-Free Images Of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms, Noelle Daigle, Shuyuan Guan, Suzann Duan, Thomas G Knapp, Eung-Joo Lee, Ali Azhdarinia, Sukhen C Ghosh, Solmaz Aghaamiri, Servando Hernandez Vargas, Naruhiko Ikoma, Jeannelyn Estrella, Martin J Schnermann, Tobias Else, Michelle Kang Kim, Juanita L Merchant, Travis W Sawyer

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Significance: Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNENs) are an uncommon cancer whose incidence rate has increased dramatically in recent years. Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment, which relies on both preoperative tumor localization and postoperative margin definition using histopathological examination for decision making. If pathology could be automated, valuable time and resources could be saved.

Aim: In this study, we investigate the ability of machine learning (ML) with handcrafted features, as well as deep learning, to classify label-free microscopy images of PNENs as a first step toward automated pathology of such tumors.

Approach: Patient samples of two different preparation types were …

Chemistry And Biochemistry Affiliated Publications: Snapshot Of The Research Publications 2019-2024., Jeremy J. Smith, Lutishoor Salisbury

University Libraries Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report highlights the chemistry and biochemistry faculty publications for the period 2019-2024. It includes tables identifying the types of publications, the characteristics of the authors, inter-departmental and external cooperation, summary of the citations of the publications, and the JCR ranking of the journals in which they published.

Mechanisms For The Age-Related Increase In Fatigability Of The Elbow Flexor Muscles In Healthy Adults, Blaine E. Arney, Andrew Kuplic, Mitchell D. Adam, Christopher W. Sundberg, Sandra Hunter

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

The mechanisms for the age-related increase in fatigability of the elbow flexor muscles during dynamic contractions are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of supraspinal and contractile mechanisms for the age-related increase in fatigability of the elbow flexor muscles. Twenty-eight young (23.2 ± 2.6 years; 14 females) and 32 older adults (72.6 ± 5.6 years; 15 females) performed 80 maximal velocity contractions at 20% of maximal isometric strength. Voluntary activation and muscle contractile properties were assessed before and immediately following the fatiguing exercise using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electrical stimulation. Fatigability (% reduction in …

Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection For Previously Attempted Colorectal Lesions: An International Multicenter Experience., Suchapa Arayakarnkul, Hiroyuki Aihara, Alessandro Repici, Roberta Maselli, Antonio Capogreco, Leonardo Da Rio, Fabio Shiguehissa Kawaguti, Fauze Maluf-Filho, Makoto Nishimura, Sera Satoi, Sayaka Nagao, Shai Friedland, Robert Bechara, Norio Fukami, Sonmoon Mohapatra, Amit Bhatt, Abel Joseph, Alex Schlachterman, Anand Kumar, Andrew Y Wang, Ross C D Buerlein, Louis M Wong Kee Song, Fnu Deepali, Dennis Yang, Muhammad K Hasan, Nikhil A Kumta, David L Diehl, Edward J Despott, Alberto Murino, Alessandro Rimondi, Laura Lucaciu, Neil R Sharma, Christina Zelt, Ashley Rumple Rn, Bsn, David Leslie Carr-Locke, Reem Z Sharaiha, Srihari Mahadev, Kamal M Hassan, Mohamad-Noor Abu-Hammour, Carlos Robles-Medranda, Martha Arevalo-Mora, Juan Alcivar-Vasquez, Vivek Kumbhari, Jongkyu Park, Salmaan Jawaid, Mai A Khalaf, Kasenee Tiankanon, Sarah S Al Ghamdi, Mohamed O Othman, Saowanee Ngamruengphong

PCI Publications and Projects

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Salvage endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been proposed for previously attempted colorectal lesions (PACLs), yet the extensive submucosal fibrosis impacts procedural difficulty and resection outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of salvage ESD for the treatment of PACLs.

METHODS: This international, multicenter study enrolled consecutive patients who underwent ESD to manage PACLs. Rates of en bloc, R0 resection, and local recurrence were assessed for efficacy. Safety was assessed by adverse events (AEs), procedure-related mortality, and the need for surgical management.

RESULTS: Of 415 lesions, en bloc rate was 83.4%, the …

Harnessing Rice Glutelin And Chickpea Proteins Interactions To Enhance Functional And Nutritional Qualities Of Plant-Based Cheese, Nikitha Modupalli, Md Mahfuzur Rahman

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The recent demand for plant-based dairy alternatives has increased the focus on improving the organoleptic, and nutritional attributes of plant cheeses to match their dairy counterparts. This study aimed to develop a functional cheese using the synergistic interactions of rice glutelin and chickpea proteins to enhance both nutritional and textural properties. Functional characterization revealed that rice glutelin exhibited a higher water-holding capacity of 340 % and elevated solubility, while chickpea protein showed a superior oil-holding capacity of 550 % and higher surface hydrophobicity. Cheeses were prepared using a 40:60 blend of rice glutelin to chickpea protein, which yielded 21.3 % …

Refugee Health And Nutrition, Miriam Mutambudzi, Naomi Shanguhyia

The Lender Center for Social Justice

Refugees resettled in Syracuse, New York, face persistent challenges to maintaining healthy, culturally appropriate diets, barriers that extend far beyond food availability. This policy brief explores the complex intersection of nutrition, culture, and health equity among refugee families. Through community-engaged research with sub-Saharan African refugee households, findings reveal that food insecurity remains widespread, with families struggling to access familiar ingredients and affordable, nutritious options. Despite these constraints, refugee families demonstrate remarkable resilience and commitment to preserving traditional diets and promoting health within their households. However, limited cultural competence in food assistance programs and exposure of youth to unhealthy dietary norms …

Colaborate: A Mixed-Methods Approach To Enabling Inclusive Dialogue Of Emotional Regulation Resources For Young Autistic Children, Sarai E. Deese

Senior Theses

Emotion regulation (ER) is a critical developmental milestone and is often delayed or more difficult for autistic children. Publicly available resources for birth-5-year-olds with autism could benefit significantly by integrating the values of and information provided by autistic adults. However, existing resources may have poor accessibility, acceptability, and feasibility according to different groups within the autism community, creating a significant gap in effective support. This mixed-methods study investigated ER experiences, resource knowledge, and resource desire among autistic adults (N=4; Stage 1) and caregivers of young autistic children (N=4; Stage 2) to inform the development of acceptable ER supports. In Stage …

Healthcare Informatics October 2025, Aga Khan University

Department of Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) Archives

• Message from the CMIO
• Update by Workgroup Leads
• AKUH-Karachi, OneHealth Activities
• Office of CMIO collaborate in Allied Health Conference
• Department Engagement
• SIMPACT 2025; The First Hour: Sepsis Simulation in an EHR-Driven Workflow
• Upcoming Event
• Academics Research Scholarship

“Contains: Gluten” And “Gluten Free”; Fda, It’S A No-Grainer!, Elizabeth Bulat

Cardozo Law Review

Reading food, drug, and cosmetic labels is a frequent practice for all individuals with allergies. However, unlike those who are allergic to peanuts, dairy, or another major food allergen, individuals with celiac disease (“celiac consumers”) are not offered a bold, capitalized statement clearly identifying the allergen they seek to avoid. Instead, celiac consumers are tasked with studying a list of ingredients and relying on their own ability to catch any sources of gluten. This Note considers the authority provided by Congress to the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remedy this rash regime. Then, this Note proposes that the …

An Animal Interest Approach Method As A Gateway To A One Health Educated Pipeline, Meghan C. Wulster-Radcliffe, Sarah A. Reed, James N. Macleod, Rebekah B. Epps, J. Scott Radcliffe, Robert J. Coleman, Steven A. Zinn

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Food Insecurity And Social Connection Of Nicaraguan Refugees And Asylum Seekers In Costa Rica: A Qualitative Study, Keren Herran

Theses and Dissertations

Background

Given the physical and mental health consequences of food insecurity, solutions should be evidence-based and seek to prioritize vulnerable populations. This qualitative study adds to limited literature on how refugees and asylum seekers use their social connections to mitigate food insecurity by investigating how Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers in Costa Rica foster social connections and use these connections to acquire and manage food.

Methods

In fall 2024, 35 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted in San José, Costa Rica. Participants were recruited through six migrant-serving nonprofit organizations. For study inclusion, participants had to: 1) be 18 or older; 2) …

Identifying And Understanding The Barriers To Sexual Health Information Seeking Experienced By Young Adults (Ages 18-26) Using Social Media, Alexander Nicolas Vera

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation uses a qualitative, constructionist approach to examine the sociotechnical and cultural dynamics that shape digital sexual health-seeking practices of young adults. Guided by information practices and affordance theory, the research draws on semi-structured interviews and digital walkthroughs with 20 young adults (ages 18–26) from a convenience sample of young adults residing in South Carolina. Participants described how they use platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit not only to locate information but to assess its trustworthiness, inclusivity, and personal relevance in real time. Through in-depth accounts and screen-based demonstrations via digital walkthroughs, the study examines how participants engage in …

Hungry Minds: Analyzing The Impact Of Food Insecurity And Food Assistance Programs On Neurocognitive Development And Childhood Mental Health, Kayla A. Davenport

Senior Theses

Introduction: Food insecurity affects millions of children in the United States and is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor for poor nutritional intake and adverse health outcomes. However, less is known about how the experience of food insecurity disrupts healthy development and well-being, particularly among American youth. This thesis had two aims: (1) to examine the relationship between household food insecurity and children’s neurocognitive and mental health outcomes and (2) to evaluate how major food assistance programs address, or fail to address, these developmental risks.

Methods: This thesis uses a mixed-methods approach, integrating a narrative literature review, a cross-sectional …

Feasibility And Usage Of A Virtual Assistant Device In Cognitively Impaired Homebound Older Adults, Matthew Nunez, Prisha Patel, Lindsey Ulin, Leslie Kian, Martin Cominsky, Jason Burnett, Jessica L Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Social technology in older adults can improve self-rated health; however, there can also be difficulties using it. Our study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptance of virtual assistant device (VAD) use in cognitively impaired homebound older adults. 52 newly referred Meals on Wheels clients aged 60 and older were recruited for a three-phase study: 6 weeks of meals alone (control), followed by 6 weeks of meals+Alexa Echo Show 8 (AES8) basic usage, and lastly 6 weeks of meals+AES8 advanced usage. Technology acceptance with the AES8 was significantly higher by the end of the study and participants anecdotally enjoyed playing …