On-Line Training in Treating Dementia: Spaced Retrieval

描述（由申请人提供）：到2050年，美国诊断出与阿尔茨海默病相关的痴呆症的人数预计将超过1500万，而全球总数为8000万。为与痴呆症有关的认知残疾者提供有效干预措施的计算机学习材料的市场潜力正在扩大。特别是，语言病理学（SLP）硕士课程的学生在开始他们的职业生涯之前需要掌握这些临床工作技能。对痴呆症患者进行有效干预的一个例子是空间检索（SR）。记忆记忆是一种学习和保留信息的方法，通过在越来越长的时间内回忆这些信息。从本质上讲，它是一种应用于记忆的塑造范式（Bjork, 1988; Camp & McKitrick, 1992; Landauer & Bjork, 1978）。slp被指定提供治疗的另一个领域是吞咽障碍（吞咽困难）的诊断和治疗，这在痴呆症患者中很常见。此外，学生通常不会在他们的标准课程中学习如何有效地与痴呆症患者沟通。第二阶段SBIR项目将利用国家康复服务（NRS）的专业知识，该服务为康复专业人员的教育创造并成功销售了产品。NRS还成功地完成了本提案所基于的第一阶段SBIR，包括创建一个基于web的、基于文本的sr使用课程。对于第二阶段，我们希望采用可共享内容对象参考模型（SCORM）作为我们的规范标准，为SLP学生开发基于SCORM的硕士级课程的初始产品线，在自接触的富互联网应用程序（RIA）产品中使用SCORM模型中的概念。这些课程将包括：SR的使用，吞咽困难的诊断和治疗，以及与痴呆症患者沟通。在这个为期两年的项目中，来自四所大学的200名SLP学生将参与三个拟议课程的alpha和beta版本的创建和测试，此外还有150名老年痴呆症患者在大学附属诊所。我们的目标是：1)为SLP硕士水平的学生创建三个基于scorm的课程的alpha和beta版本，重点是有效地与痴呆症患者合作所需的技能；2)证明这些基于scorm的课程在知识获取方面可以产生与传统的面对面交付版本的课程相当的结果；3)确定学生在与老年痴呆症患者一起工作时，是否能够有效地将这些基于scorm的课程中获得的知识付诸实践；4)确定学生在这些基于SCORM的课程中获得的知识的实施是否会导致痴呆症患者相应的健康相关改善；5)对课程进行必要的最后修改，以便在项目结束时为市场做好准备。公共卫生相关性：到2050年，美国被诊断患有与阿尔茨海默病相关的痴呆症的人数预计将超过1500万，而全球总人数为8000万。随着未来老年人数量的增加，其他形式的痴呆症也将变得更加普遍。旨在培训治疗师以促进痴呆症患者更高水平的独立性的教育材料对社会所有成员都有益。国家康复服务中心（NRS）拥有开发和展示这类材料的历史，将利用第二阶段SBIR项目来创建最先进的、基于计算机的内容，以培训即将进入言语语言病理学领域的学生。这将有助于提高这些未来专业人员的技能，并鼓励更多的专业人员与老年痴呆症患者一起工作。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The number of people in the U.S. diagnosed with dementia related to Alzheimer's disease is expected to exceed 15 million by 2050, out of a total of 80 million worldwide. Market potential is expanding for the creation of computer-based learning materials involving effective interventions for persons with cognitive disabilities associated with dementia. In particular, students in masters-level speech-language pathology (SLP) programs need to acquire such clinical job skills before beginning their professional careers. One example of an effective intervention for persons with dementia is Spaced-Retrieval (SR). SR is a method of learning and retaining information by recalling that information over increasingly longer periods of time. It is, in essence, a shaping paradigm applied to memory (Bjork, 1988; Camp & McKitrick, 1992; Landauer & Bjork, 1978). Another area in which SLPs are designated to provide therapy is the diagnosis and treatment of swallowing disorders (dysphagia), which is commonly seen in persons with dementia. In addition, students generally do not learn how to effectively communicate with persons with dementia in their standard coursework. This Phase II SBIR project will capitalize on the expertise of National Rehabilitation Services (NRS), which has created and successfully marketed products for the education of rehabilitation professionals. NRS also successfully concluded the Phase I SBIR on which this proposal is based, involving creation of a web-housed, text-based course on the use of SR. For Phase II, we wish to adopt the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) as our specification standard to develop an initial product line of SCORM-based courses for SLP students in masters-level programs, using the concepts drawn from the SCORM model in a self-contact Rich Internet Application (RIA) product. These courses will involve: the use of SR, diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia, and communicating with persons with dementia. In this 2-year project, 200 SLP students at four universities will participate in alpha and beta version creation and testing of the three proposed courses, in addition to 150 older adult clients with dementia in university affiliated clinics. Our objectives are to: 1) Create alpha and beta versions of three SCORM-based courses for SLP masters- level students focusing on skills necessary to work effectively with clients with dementia; 2) Document that these SCORM-based courses can produce comparable results to traditional, face-to-face delivery versions of the courses in terms of knowledge acquisition; 3) Determine whether knowledge acquired in these SCORM-based courses can be effectively implemented by students when working with older adult clients with dementia; 4) Determine whether implementation of knowledge acquired by students in these SCORM- based courses results in corresponding health-related improvements in clients with dementia; and 5) Create the necessary final modifications to the courses so that they will be market ready by the end of the project. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The number of people in the U.S. diagnosed with dementia related to Alzheimer's disease is expected to exceed 15 million by 2050, out of a total of 80 million worldwide. Other forms of dementia also will become more prevalent as the number of older adults increases in the future. Educational material designed to train therapists to facilitate higher levels of independence in people with dementia is beneficial to all members of society. National Rehabilitation Services (NRS), with a history of developing and presenting such materials, will use this Phase 2 SBIR project to create state-of-the-art, computer-based content for training students about to enter the field of Speech-Language Pathology. This will serve to enhance the skills of these future professionals, as well as to encourage more of them to work with geriatric clients with dementia.