Laura H. Barg-Walkow

Bio: Laura H. Barg-Walkow is an academic researcher from Georgia Institute of Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Health care & Usability. The author has an hindex of 8, co-authored 18 publications receiving 314 citations. Previous affiliations of Laura H. Barg-Walkow include Boston Children's Hospital.

Self-Management of Wellness and Illness in an Aging Population

Abstract: In this chapter, we review the last 10 years of literature on self-management of illnesses (acute/episodic and chronic) and wellness (e.g., health promotion). We focus on health self-management in the context of an aging population, wherein middle-aged adults are more likely to be managing wellness activities and older adults are often managing both maintenance of health and chronic illnesses. The critical issues related to self-management of health are discussed, including those imposed by health care demands and those stemming from individual differences in general abilities (e.g., motor, perception, cognition) and socioemotional characteristics. The dynamic relationship between theory and practice is highlighted. Health care demands reflect the nature of the illness or wellness activity and include managing comorbidities, symptoms, and medications; engaging in health promotion activities (e.g., exercise, diet); the required use of health technologies; the need for health-related information; and coordi...

Mobile Health Apps: Improving Usability for Older Adult Users:

Abstract: With smartphone use among older populations on the rise, older adults have increased access to health-focused mobile apps. Despite their potential benefits for managing health, currently no guideli...

Managing Heart Failure On the Go: Usability Issues with mHealth Apps for Older Adults:

Abstract: Mobile apps for self-managing chronic health conditions are widely available for download from online app stores Mobile health (mHealth) apps provide a convenient way of managing health conditions

The effect of incorrect reliability information on expectations, perceptions, and use of automation

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: We examined how providing artificially high or low statements about automation reliability affected expectations, perceptions, and use of automation over time. BACKGROUND: One common method of introducing automation is providing explicit statements about the automation's capabilities. Research is needed to understand how expectations from such introductions affect perceptions and use of automation. METHOD: Explicit-statement introductions were manipulated to set higher-than (90%), same-as (75%), or lower-than (60%) levels of expectations in a dual-task scenario with 75% reliable automation. Two experiments were conducted to assess expectations, perceptions, compliance, reliance, and task performance over (a) 2 days and (b) 4 days. RESULTS: The baseline assessments showed initial expectations of automation reliability matched introduced levels of expectation. For the duration of each experiment, the lower-than groups' perceptions were lower than the actual automation reliability. However, the higher-than groups' perceptions were no different from actual automation reliability after Day 1 in either study. There were few differences between groups for automation use, which generally stayed the same or increased with experience using the system. CONCLUSION: Introductory statements describing artificially low automation reliability have a long-lasting impact on perceptions about automation performance. Statements including incorrect automation reliability do not appear to affect use of automation. APPLICATION: Introductions should be designed according to desired outcomes for expectations, perceptions, and use of the automation. Low expectations have long-lasting effects. Language: en

What's up with whatsapp?: comparing mobile instant messaging behaviors with traditional SMS

Abstract: With the advent of instant mobile messaging applications, traditional SMS is in danger of loosing it's reign as the king of mobile messaging. Applications like WhatsApp allow mobile users to send real-time text messages to individuals or groups of friends at no cost. While there is a vast body of research on traditional text messaging practices, little is understood about how and why people have adopted and appropriated instant mobile messaging applications. The goal of this work is to provide a deeper understanding of the motives and perceptions of a popular mobile messaging application called WhatsApp and to learn more about what this service offers above and beyond traditional SMS. To this end, we present insights from two studies an interview study and a large-scale survey highlighting that while WhatsApp offers benefits such as cost, sense of community and immediacy, SMS is still considered a more reliable, privacy preserving technology for mobile communication.

Introduction to research.

Abstract: O ne of the few research texts authored by those with occupational therapy expertise, this book offers a vast amount of information to the beginning researcher or to professionals interested in reviewing studies with a more critical eye. The book proceeus in a logical fashion beginning with the philosophy of research. The how-to's of designing a study and collecting data are presented, and the final chapters deal with analysis and interpretation of data. In Pan I, the authors define research as a form of knowledge that is \"logical, understandable, confirmable and useful\" (p. 5). DePoy and Gitlin also point out that research provides the scientific evidence necessary to generate a professional body of knowledge. The naturalistic approach to research, designed to uncover phenomena via inductive reasoning, is presented in a positive light. The reader becomes aware of the basic theoretical differences between this approach and the somewhat less controversial experimental approach and is given examples of each. The authors discuss that, although these approaches vary in theory, they may be combined to proVide an integrated approach to research. In Part II, the specifics of structuring research projects are addressed. Which framework (experimental, naturalistic, or a combination) is used depends on the question the researcher wants to answer. The authors also discuss the importance and mechanics of performing a thorough literature review and methods to categorize research designs. The remainder of Pan II is devored to further explanation of the naturalistic and experimental approaches. Examples to illustrate the continuum of designs in each of these approaches are given and several methods 1O combine these designs are proposed. In Part Ill, DePoy and Gitlin delve into selection of appropriate populations and sample sizes. They talk aboLlt nor only what population to include, but also what population to exclude to provide the most stable foundation for a research project. Data-gathering techniques are examined in depth for borh the naturalistic and experimental designs, and several methods for performing statistical analysis are presented. Analysis techniques for naturalistic methodologies are included also. Some basic tips for metamorphosing the information proVided from data analysis into a written text that is clear and concise are outlined in the remaining chapters. The authors also make the pOint that information gleaned from research, no matter how relevant, is nor of use to the profession unless it is disseminated to others. In the last chapter, the authors share their personal research experiences. The reader is left with some perceptions of performing research in a practice-oriented profession. The entry-level researcher, or the clinician wishing to upgrade his knowledge of what constitutes a strong study, will find this book of great interest. The authors have tackled a rather esoreric subject and tied it into a clinician's frame of reference. This text was also written to be included in research curriculums. The Student will find all of the necessary teaching information, as well as examples of the theories presented. Some interesting features of this text include its logical organization. Each chapter contains a summary of the information presented so that the reader can review at a glance. Several of the chapters that present the steps necessary to carry out a study have mental exercises the reader can perform to tesl his knowledge. A wonderful gJossary, bibliography, and thorough index make this an appropriate reference book for the clinician. Theories, strategies, and methodologies are presented with tables and illustrations that are clear to those nor familiar with basic research ideas. One area that could be strengthened is the authors' use of clinical examples. The examples provided in the text are sometimes vague and difficult for the reader to relate to the tenets they are used to reinforce. In addition, many examples appear to be drawn from the authors' social work experience, rather than from their occupational therapy expertise. The book does, however, contain several pertinent references to studies encompassing the occupational therapy range. Several of these studies were also done by the authors, lending further credence to their opinions. For the most part, the authors present the information in an easily understandable style. The beginning of the text, with its explanations of the theory of research and the philosophies of several approaches, may be difficult reading for some. But overall, this text does what it was written to do: give the reader interested in research a thorough background in theory and methodology. The authors seek to demystify the research process for those in the health and human services fields, and the reader is left with a sense that research is not JUSt for those with specialized training, but that direct patient care proViders also can possess the necessary skills and knowledge to make a significant contribution to their profession's body of knowledge. Joanne Merante Baird, MA. OTRIL

Temporal factors in mental work: effects on interrupted activities

Abstract: Although interruptions are daily occurring events for most working people, little research has been done on the impacts of interruptions on workers and their performance. This study examines the e Vects of interruptions on task performance and its regulation, as well as on workers’ psychological and psychophysiological state. Two parallel experiments were carried out in the Netherlands and in Russia, using a common conceptual framework and overlapping designs. Employees with relevant work experience carried out realistic text editing tasks in a simulated o Yce environment, while the frequency and complexity of interruptions were experimentally manipulated. It was hypothesized that interruptions: (i) would cause a deterioration of performance; (ii) evoke strategies to partially compensate for this deterioration; (iii) aVect subjects’ emotions and well-being negatively; and (iv) raise the level of eVort and activation. It was also hypothesized that greater frequency and complexity of interruptions would enhance the expected e Vects. The hypotheses are only partially cone rmed. The results show that, contrary to what was expected, interruptions cause people to perform the main task faster while maintaining the level of quality. Participants develop strategies enabling them to deal e Vectively with the interruptions, while actually over-compensating the potential performance decline. Interruptions do have a negative impact on emotion and well-being, and lead to an increase of e Vort expenditure, although not to an increase in activation. Thus the improved performance is achieved at the expense of higher psychological costs. Greater complexity evoked more favourable responses among the Dutch participants and more unfavourable ones among the Russian participants. These diVerences are interpreted in terms of the participants’ professional background. The research demonstrates that the e Vects of interruptions reach beyond the execution of additional tasks and the change of work strategies. Interruptions appear to have an after-e Vect, ine uencing the workers’ subsequent readiness to perform. Detailed analysis of the activity in the interruption interval, focusing on