| 1. |
- Alt Murphy, Margit, 1970, et al.
(författare)
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An upper body garment with integrated sensors for people with neurological disorders – early development and evaluation
- 2019
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Ingår i: BMC Biomedical Engineering. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2524-4426. ; 1:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: To develop a novel wearable garment with integrated sensors for continuous monitoring of physiological and movement related variables to evaluate progression, tailor treatments and improve diagnosis in epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and stroke. Methods: An iterative development process and evaluation of an upper body garment with integrated sensors included: identification of user needs, specification of technical and garment requirements, garment development and production as well as evaluation of garment design, functionality and usability. The project is a multidisciplinary collaboration with experts from medical, engineering, textile, and material science within the wearITmed consortium. The work was organized in regular meetings, task groups and hands-on workshops. User needs were identified using results from a mixed-methods systematic review, a focus group study and expert groups. Usability was evaluated in 19 individuals (13 controls, 6 patients with Parkinson’s disease) using semi-structured interviews and qualitative content analysis. Results: A prototype designed to monitor movements and heart rate was developed. The garment was well accepted by the users regarding design and comfort, although the users were cautious about the technology and suggested improvements. All electronic components passed a washability test. The most robust data was obtained from accelerometer and gyroscope sensors while the electrodes for heart rate registration were sensitive to motion. artefacts. The algorithm development within the wearITmed consortium has shown promising results. Conclusions: The prototype was accepted by the users. Technical improvements are needed, but preliminary data indicate that the garment has potential to be used as a tool for diagnosis and treatment selection and could provide added value for monitoring seizures in epilepsy, fluctuations in PD and activity levels in stroke. Future work aims to improve the prototype further, develop algorithms, and evaluate the functionality and usability in targeted patient groups. The potential of incorporating blood pressure and heart-rate variability monitoring will also be explored.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Lo Martire, Riccardo, et al.
(författare)
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Construction of a web-based questionnaire for longitudinal investigation of work exposure, musculoskeletal pain and performance impairments in high-performance marine craft populations
- 2017
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 7:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: High-performance marine craft personnel (HPMCP) are regularly exposed to vibration and repeated shock (VRS) levels exceeding maximum limitations stated by international legislation. Whereas such exposure reportedly is detrimental to health and performance, the epidemiological data necessary to link these adverse effects causally to VRS are not available in the scientific literature, and no suitable tools for acquiring such data exist. This study therefore constructed a questionnaire for longitudinal investigations in HPMCP.METHODS: A consensus panel defined content domains, identified relevant items and outlined a questionnaire. The relevance and simplicity of the questionnaire's content were then systematically assessed by expert raters in three consecutive stages, each followed by revisions. An item-level content validity index (I-CVI) was computed as the proportion of experts rating an item as relevant and simple, and a scale-level content validity index (S-CVI/Ave) as the average I-CVI across items. The thresholds for acceptable content validity were 0.78 and 0.90, respectively. Finally, a dynamic web version of the questionnaire was constructed and pilot tested over a 1-month period during a marine exercise in a study population sample of eight subjects, while accelerometers simultaneously quantified VRS exposure.RESULTS: Content domains were defined as work exposure, musculoskeletal pain and human performance, and items were selected to reflect these constructs. Ratings from nine experts yielded S-CVI/Ave of 0.97 and 1.00 for relevance and simplicity, respectively, and the pilot test suggested that responses were sensitive to change in acceleration and that the questionnaire, following some adjustments, was feasible for its intended purpose.CONCLUSIONS: A dynamic web-based questionnaire for longitudinal survey of key variables in HPMCP was constructed. Expert ratings supported that the questionnaire content is relevant, simple and sufficiently comprehensive, and the pilot test suggested that the questionnaire is feasible for longitudinal measurements in the study population.
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| 4. |
- Sieber, Arne Santa, et al.
(författare)
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Compact recreational rebreather with innovative gas sensing concept and low work of breathing design
- 2013
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Ingår i: Marine Technology Society journal. - : Marine Technology Society Inc.. - 0025-3324 .- 1948-1209. ; 47:6, s. 27-41
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recreational rebreathers are increasingly popular, and recreational diver training organizations now routinely offer training for rebreather diving. Few rebreathers on the market, however, fulfill the criteria of a dedicated recreational rebreather. These remain based on traditional sensor technology, which may be linked to rebreather use having an estimated 10 times the risk of mortality while diving compared with open circuit breathing systems. In the present work, a new recreational rebreather based on two innovative approaches is described. Firstly, the rebreather uses a novel sensor system including voltammetric and spectroscopic validation of galvanic pO2 sensor cells, a redundant optical pO2 sensor, and a two-wavelength infrared pCO2 sensor. Secondly, a new breathing loop design is introduced, which reduces failure points, improves work of breathing, and can be mass fabricated at a comparatively low cost. Two prototypes were assembled and tested in the laboratory at a notified body for personal protective equipment before both pool and sea water diving trials. Work of breathing was well below the maximum allowed by the European Normative. These trials also demonstrated that optical pO2 sensors can be successfully employed in rebreathers. The pCO2 sensor detected pCO2 from 0.0004 to 0.0024 bar. These new approaches, which include a new concept for simplified mechanical design as well as improved electronic control, may prove useful in future recreational diving apparatus.
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| 6. |
- Davide, Giacalone, et al.
(författare)
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Health and quality of life in an aging population - Food and beyond
- 2016
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Ingår i: Food Quality and Preference. - : Elsevier BV. - 0950-3293 .- 1873-6343. ; 47, s. 166-170
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In Europe the percentage of citizens aged 65 and over is increasing at an unprecedented rate, and is expected to account for over 30% of the population by 2050. Coupled with an increase in life expectancy, this massive demographic change calls for a major effort to ensure quality of life in our older population. A thorough understanding of the elderly as food consumers, their nutritional needs, their food perception and preferences is increasingly needed.The role of food in healthy aging was a prominent theme at the 6th European Conference on Sensory and Consumer Research, which had quality of life across the life span as a focal point. This short paper is based on a workshop held at the EuroSense meeting, focusing on research from sensory and consumer scientists. The workshop featured contributions focusing on food-related perception, needs and behavior of the elderly, and aimed at demonstrating the relevance of sensory and consumer scientists in promoting food-related well-being in an aging population. The workshop contributions are here reviewed and summarized three main themes: nutritional needs, food perception and aging, and behavioral drivers of food consumption.
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| 7. |
- de Alwis, Manudul Pahansen, et al.
(författare)
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Development and validation of a web-based questionnaire for surveying the health and working conditions of high-performance marine craft populations
- 2016
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 6:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background High-performance marine craft crews are susceptible to various adverse health conditions caused by multiple interactive factors. However, there are limited epidemiological data available for assessment of working conditions at sea. Although questionnaire surveys are widely used for identifying exposures, outcomes and associated risks with high accuracy levels, until now, no validated epidemiological tool exists for surveying occupational health and performance in these populations. Aim To develop and validate a web-based questionnaire for epidemiological assessment of occupational and individual risk exposure pertinent to the musculoskeletal health conditions and performance in high-performance marine craft populations. Method A questionnaire for investigating the association between work-related exposure, performance and health was initially developed by a consensus panel under four subdomains, viz. demography, lifestyle, work exposure and health and systematically validated by expert raters for content relevance and simplicity in three consecutive stages, each iteratively followed by a consensus panel revision. The item content validity index (I-CVI) was determined as the proportion of experts giving a rating of 3 or 4. The scale content validity index (S-CVI/Ave) was computed by averaging the I-CVIs for the assessment of the questionnaire as a tool. Finally, the questionnaire was pilot tested. Results The S-CVI/Ave increased from 0.89 to 0.96 for relevance and from 0.76 to 0.94 for simplicity, resulting in 36 items in the final questionnaire. The pilot test confirmed the feasibility of the questionnaire. Conclusions The present study shows that the web-based questionnaire fulfils previously published validity acceptance criteria and is therefore considered valid and feasible for the empirical surveying of epidemiological aspects among high-performance marine craft crews and similar populations.
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| 8. |
- Johansson Hanse, Jan, 1954, et al.
(författare)
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Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) and Psychosocial Factors at Work Among Healthcare Professionals
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Nursing and Care. - : OMICS Publishing Group. - 2167-1168. ; 3:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: The study aims to examine the associations between leader–member exchange (LMX) and psychosocial factors at work. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was undertaken at four units in two not-for-profit hospitals in southwestern Sweden. The study sample included 240 employees. Results: Significant correlations were found between LMX items and most of the psychosocial domains and dimensions. The strongest correlations were found between the LMX item affect and rewards/recognition, role clarity and predictability, and the LMX item loyalty and rewards/recognition. In sum, high-quality LMX was associated with good psychosocial work conditions experienced by the employees. Conclusions: The results support possible ways for managers and employees to strengthen their relationships and this may in turn lead to more sustainable systems in health care.
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| 9. |
- Ekbladh, Elin, et al.
(författare)
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Initial evaluation of measurement properties of the Work Environment Impact Questionnaire (WEIQ) - using Rasch analysis
- 2024
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Ingår i: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1477-7525. ; 22:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: To provide both preventive and rehabilitative conditions in a workplace, one must understand how employees experience work demands. Such an understanding can be obtained from each individual with valid and quality-assured questionnaires. The Work Environment Impact Questionnaire (WEIQ) is a new questionnaire for measuring employees' self-perceived work ability in relation to their specific workplace environment. The purpose of this study was to assess the measurement properties in terms of construct validity of the WEIQ.Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted with 288 respondents from three different workplaces involving assisted living personnel, vocational rehabilitation personnel and personnel at a research institute. The measurement properties of the WEIQ were assessed according to Rasch Measurement Theory (RMT), including assessment of item-to-sample targeting, threshold ordering, item fit statistics, unidimensionality and reliability.Results: Item fit, i.e., fit residuals, item characteristic curves (ICC) and chi square values, were all satisfactory, and no disordered thresholds were present after collapsing the lowest response categories. However, issues with local dependent (LD) item correlations was present in 7.6% cases, four items showed statistically significant differential item functioning (DIF), where 11% of the respondents had person fit residuals outside the recommended range of +/- 2.5 and the t-test for unidimensionality did not meet the criterion of 5%. Scale-to-sample targeting and reliability (0.92) were good. LD could be resolved with testlets and at the same time maintaining fit and improving dimensionality, but then the reliability decreased to 0.82.Conclusions: This study provides an initial validation of the WEIQ to be used for assessing employees' self-perceived work ability. Most measurement properties were acceptable, but further exploration of LD, DIF and unidimensionality in additional work settings and with larger sample sizes is warranted.Trial registration Not applicable.
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| 10. |
- de Alwis, Pahansen, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure aboard high-performance Marine craft increases musculoskeletal pain and lowers contemporary work capacity of the occupants
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Engineering for the Maritime Environment (Part M). - : SAGE Publications. - 1475-0902 .- 2041-3084. ; 235:3, s. 750-762
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High-Performance Marine Craft (HPMC) occupants are currently being investigated for various psychophysical impairments degrading work performance postulating that these deteriorations are related to their occupational exposures. However, scientific evidence for this is lacking and the association of exposure conditions aboard HPMC with adverse health and performance effects is unknown. Therefore, the study estimates the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) among HPMC occupants and the association of their work exposure with MSP and performance degradation. It also presents a criterion for evaluating the self-reported exposure severity aboard three different types of mono-hull HPMC; displacement, semi-displacement and planing, on a par with the available standard criteria for objectively measurable exposures. Furthermore, another criterion is proposed to assess the performance-degradation of HPMC occupants based on self-reported fatigue symptoms and MSP. Swedish Coast Guard HPMC occupants were surveyed for MSP, fatigue symptoms as well as for work-related and individual risk indicators using a validated web-based questionnaire. Prevalence of MSP and performance-degradation during the past 12 months were assessed and presented as a percentage of the sample. Associations of exposure conditions aboard HPMC with MSP and performance-capacity were systematically evaluated using multiple logistic regression models and expressed as odds ratio (OR). Prevalence of MSP was 72% among which lower back pain was the most prevalent (46%) followed by neck pain (29%) and shoulder pain (23%) while 29% with degraded performance. Exposure to severe conditions aboard semi-displacement craft was associated with lower back (OR = 2.3) and shoulder (OR = 2.6) pain while severe conditions aboard planing craft with neck pain (OR = 2.3) and performance-degradation (OR = 2.6). MSP is common among Swedish coast guards. Severe exposure conditions aboard HPMC are significantly associated with both MSP and performance-degradation. The spine and shoulders are the most susceptible to work-related MSP among HPMC occupants which should be targeted in work-related preventive and corrective measures.
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