Poster Session 05 Program Schedule
02/15/2024
02:30 pm - 03:45 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)
Poster Session 05: Neuropsychiatry | Addiction/Dependence | Stress/Coping | Emotional/Social Processes
Final Abstract #51
A Feasibility Study on the use of a Smartwatch to Support Spatial Navigation in Patients with Alcohol-Related Cognitive Disorders
Gwenny Janssen, Centre of Excellence for Korsakoff’s syndrome and alcohol related cognitive disorders, Vincent van Gogh, Venray, Netherlands
Mascha Marseille, Centre of Excellence for Korsakoff’s syndrome and alcohol related cognitive disorders, Vincent van Gogh, Venray, Netherlands
Roy Kessels, Centre of Excellence for Korsakoff’s syndrome and alcohol related cognitive disorders, Vincent van Gogh, Venray, Netherlands
Category: Drug/Toxin-Related Disorders (including Alcohol)
Keyword 1: cognitive functioning
Keyword 2: activities of daily living
Keyword 3: technology
Objective:
Excessive and prolonged alcohol misuse, often combined with poor nutritional intake, is associated with cognitive deficits, including impairments in spatial navigation. Spatial navigation allows us to determine our location in relation to the environment and impairments will negatively affect our way finding and route learning skills. Over the last decades, wearables such as activity trackers and smartwatches are increasingly used in mental health care facilities to support navigation. In the current study we aim to assess the feasibility of a customized smartwatch with a tracker (used by the patients) and navigation app (used by the caregivers to locate or help the patient, Miles®: https://watchmiles.nl) as an add-on care intervention, actively engaging patients with moderate to severe alcohol related cognitive disorders in navigation and route learning.
Participants and Methods:
Eight patients participated in this study (6 males; mean age = 59.5; SD = 5.4). Patients were recruited from the Centre of Excellence for Korsakoff and Alcohol-Related Cognitive Disorders in Venray, the Netherlands and were diagnosed in accordance with DSM-5-TR criteria for mild or major alcohol-induced neurocognitive disorders (APA,2022). All patients navigated (preset) routes using the smartwatch (i.e., supermarket, therapy building, pharmacy). They received notifications when deviating from the primary route, or when the allotted time limit was exceeded. Real time location was shown on both the smartwatch and app, allowing patients to navigate (with or without assistance of the caregiver) to their target route. All patients completed at least one (pre-set) route. Feasibility was assessed using an in-house developed evaluation questionnaire consisting of twelve questions regarding the use and safety of Miles®. Items were scored on a 10-point Likert scale.
Results:
On average, patients and caregivers were highly satisfied using the smartwatch as a supportive tool for navigation. They appreciated the easy to use design (M patients = 8.8 ; SD = 1.1 and M caregivers = 9.4 ; SD = 0.8) and its safety (M patients = 7.6; SD = 1.1 and M caregivers = 7.5; SD = 0.5, respectively). Although experienced levels of independence were rated highly by caregivers (M = 8.0; SD = 1.0), they were only moderate for patients (M = 5.3; SD = 2.3). Additionally, caregivers indicated feeling less worried about their patients and reported positive effects on their patients mood and anxiety-levels. While the majority of the participants were satisfied with the manageability of the smartwatch and app, some suggestions we made regarding the touch interface.
Conclusions:
Overall, patients and caregivers highly appreciated the use of the smartwatch and app as an add-on care intervention supporting spatial navigation. Design, wearability, usability and safety of the device were rated highly. However, some functions were considered not helpful or too complex. These first results suggest that Miles® can be used as an add-on care intervention supporting patients with moderate to severe alcohol related cognitive disorders in navigating unfamiliar environments, potentially leading to an increase in outdoor activities and a greater sense of freedom. Extensive piloting is needed to further establish the usability and effectiveness of Miles®.
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