An Eye-Tracking Assistive Device Improves the Quality of Life for ALS Patients and Reduces the Caregivers’ Burden

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Title:	An Eye-Tracking Assistive Device Improves the Quality of Life for ALS Patients and Reduces the Caregivers’ Burden
Authors:	Hwang, S.-C.(Hwang, S.-C.)、Weng, H.-H.(Weng, H.-H.)、Wang, L.-F.(Wang, L.-F.)、Tsai, C.-H.(Tsai, C.-H.)、張顥騰(Chang, Hao-Teng)*
Contributors:	資訊工程學系
Keywords:	amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;eye-tracking assistive device;quality of life
Date:	201404
Issue Date:	2014-10-30 07:51:57 (UTC+0)
Abstract:	Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease. In some cases, patients with ALS retain a normal level of consciousness but disease progression eventually results in generalized paralysis, which first impedes and then prevents oral communication. This communication obstacle can generate a great deal of stress for the patient, family, and caregiver. Here the authors ask whether the use of an eye-tracking assistive device can improve quality of life for ALS patients and relieves burden of their primary caregivers. Subjects were divided into two groups depending on whether they used (n = 10) or did not use (n = 10) an eye-tracking assistive device. The authors assessed patients' quality of life and severity of depression using the ALS Specific Quality of Life Instrument-Revised and the Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire, respectively. The Caregiver Burden Scale was used to assess the burden on caregivers. Our study shows that the eye-tracking assistive device significantly improved patients' quality of life, as compared with patients in the nonuser group (p <.01). The assistive device also reduced the burden on caregivers (p <.05). This is likely a result of the improvement of patient's autonomy and more effective communication between patient and caregiver.
Relation:	JOURNAL OF MOTOR BEHAVIOR;46(4):233-8.
Appears in Collections:	[Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering] Journal Artical

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