Title: Using Virtual Reality as a Therapeutic Modality for Children with Cerebral Palsy: a Review and Synthesis Author: Bc. Petra Smolová Grammar correction: Jan Valeška Background: Cerebral palsy is often referred to as an" umbrella term" denoting a group of non-progressive conditions involving primarily a disorder of voluntary movement and/or co-ordination. A functional impairment is more important than diagnosis itself, due to the lifelong type of the disease. Therapy in children suffering from CP is nowadays based on individual movement therapy within a whole complex of rehabilitation programmes. The first line of treatment is building up an interdisciplinary team of professionals, led by paediatrics neurologist or neurologist who is pursuing rehabilitation. Physical therapist should always choose an eclectic approach, knowing only too well the reasons why. Virtual reality as a therapeutic modality is standing besides classic methods according to various authors, as we know from schools and different courses. However, this kind of treatment is novel, its results are greatly promising based on current research. Aim: The purpose of this thesis is to outline the use of virtual reality as a method of therapy in children with cerebral palsy in the main functional conditions - motor control, upper...

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Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Division of Information and Communication Sciences, Computing Department, 2008. / Bibliography: p. 503-514.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 211-218). Also available electronically via ProQuest Digital Dissertations.

Healthcare simulation is a teaching strategy rooted in cognitive, constructivist, and social learning theories. Simulation–based learning experiences offer a replacement for traditional clinical learning and are widely used across all levels of nursing education. Most simulation activities are focused on student application of cognitive knowledge to clinical situations or practicing psychomotor skills, with little attention paid to student development of core nursing values such as caring and compassion. In fact, few studies have empirically assessed the usefulness of simulation for helping student nurses develop affective characteristics such as empathy. A quasi–experimental control group study was conducted to evaluate affective learning in student nurses during a simulated clinical activity. Students randomized to the treatment condition watched a lesson on the importance of empathy as a professional nursing value along with a vignette in which an actor playing the simulated patient shared a narrative story that detailed aspects of his social, emotional, and physical well–being. Subjects who received the intervention had a greater and statistically significant increase in empathy score than those in the control condition. Students exposed to the intervention also had higher observed empathy scores, but differences between groups were not statistically significant. Since narratives can be useful for helping health profession students understand patient perspectives on their health and well–being, the concept of narrative transportation (i.e., immersion in narrative accounts or stories) was used to assess student engagement in the simulated learning activity. Students in the treatment condition had higher but non–statistically significant engagement scores in response to the intervention. Last, associations between empathy, emotional intelligence, and nursing competence were assessed. Positive and statistically significant relationships between empathy and emotional intelligence, emotional intelligence and nursing competence, and empathy and nursing competence were observed. Further analysis indicated that emotional intelligence partially mediated the relationship between empathy and nursing competence in this sample. The findings of this study demonstrated that patient narratives were useful for facilitating affective learning during simulated clinical activities. The observed results also provide insight on the relationship between affective characteristics and competency development in student nurses.

This investigation opened with justification of the association of simulation and rhetoric found in the works of Bitzer, Bryant, Burke, and Nichols. It then focused on some advantages that association provides in the classroom: provides learning experiences for diverse groups, applies to problem solving, gives variety to lecture approach, develops social behavior, and increases awareness of alternatives. A list of simulation procedures was provided for specific rhetorical principles: cooperation/competition; decision making; reasoning; recall; perspective; negotiation; and goal setting. Existing, modified, and original games were included. Simulation with a college Interpersonal Communication class provided two case studies. Procedures, results, and evaluative feedback described degrees of effectiveness, and future application and research were also provided.

Thesis (M.A.)--Naval Postgraduate School, 2004. / Title from title page of source document (viewed on April 23, 2008). Includes bibliographical references (p. 105-113).

The objectives of this thesis were to develop a machine learning tool-chain and to investigate the relationship between heart rate and trigger squeeze and shooting accuracy when firing a handgun in a simulated environment. There are several aspects that affects the accuracy of a shooter. To accelerate the learning process and to complement the instructors, different sensors can be used by the shooter. By extracting sensor data and presenting this to the shooter in real-time the rate of improvement can potentially be accelerated. An experiment which replicated precision shooting was conducted at SAAB AB using their GC-IDT simulator. 14 participants with experience ranging from zero to over 30 years participated. The participants were randomly divided into two groups where one group started the experiment with a heart rate of at least 150 beats per minute. The iTouchGlove2.3 was used to measure trigger squeeze and Polar H10 heart rate belt was used to measure heart rate. Random forest regression was then used to predict accuracy on the data collected from the experiment. A machine learning tool-chain was successfully developed to process raw sensor data which was then used by a random forest regression algorithm to form a prediction. This thesis provides insights and guidance for further experimental explorations of handgun exercises and shooting performance.

The problem involved in this study was to ascertain the current methods and materials used by office simulation teachers in the secondary schools of the State of Oregon and to suggest a plan to implement a simulated office program in the Reynolds School District.

Purpose: Does manikin fidelity affect learning outcomes in neonatal resuscitation simulation? Description: This experimental design accessed and randomly assigned health care professionals (HCP) (N=60), who completed Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) recertification in a simulation lab. The experimental group used a high-fidelity manikin. The control group recertified using a low-fidelity manikin. Dependant variables included learning outcomes of confidence, skill performance, and knowledge. These were measured using the newly developed Neonatal Resuscitation Confidence Tool (NRCT), Megacode Assessment, and NRP written exam. Both groups underwent the same simulated resuscitation scenario. Outcome: A significant increase in confidence with simulation was found (p<.001). HCPs using the high-fidelity simulator did not have a significant increased level of confidence, knowledge or skill performance compared to using the low-fidelity simulator. However, there was a significant increase in confidence with repeated NRP courses (p=.003). Implications: The use of simulation for NRP is important to increase capability with increased practice intervals. / ix, 109 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm. --