The feasibility of an automatic prompting system in assisting people with traumatic brain injury in cooking tasks

Abstract

Purpose: Individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) often experience difficulties in performing kitchen-related sequencing tasks due to cognitive deficits. The primary aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of a context-aware automatic prompting system in assisting individuals with TBI in multi-step cooking tasks.

Method: Sixteen individuals with TBI participated in the study. A randomized cross-over design was used to compare the automatic prompting method with a conventional user-controlled method through a tablet device. Participant performance under each prompting method was assessed using the Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills in terms of independence, safety, and adequacy. Subjective workload and qualitative feedback were also collected.

Results: The automatic method, when compared with the user-controlled method, significantly decreased the amount of external assistance required by participants, received higher ratings in user perceived ease-of-use, and was considered less stressful for participants. However, the user-controlled method showed strengths in offering participants more flexibility in terms of controlling on the timing of prompts.

Conclusions: The results provided insight into the potential benefits and user perceptions of a context-aware prompting system. The information could contribute to the future development of advanced prompting technology for people with cognitive impairments in completing sequential tasks.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• For people with traumatic brain injury, the context-aware prompting method showed advantages in improving user performance, receiving better ratings on ease-of-use, and decreasing stress levels, compared to the user-controlled prompting method in completing multi-step cooking tasks.

• Future prompting systems for people with cognitive impairments may allow users to control the pace of prompting and use sensing information as back-up assistance in critical situations. In this way, the system may help users monitor their actions and offer confirmations, especially at steps with safety concerns, thus enhancing the sense of security and reducing the stress from self-monitoring.

Keywords:

• Assistive technology for cognition
• context-based prompts
• multi-step tasks

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Department of Veterans Affairs for their role in this research. The contents of this paper do not represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded through the National Science Foundation, Quality of Life Technology Engineering Research Center (grant #EEC 0540865). No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.