The SCI Virtual Coach study has developed an on-screen, human-like character that will provide support, education and coaching to adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) to aid in the prevention of serious secondary conditions like pressure ulcers. In a randomized controlled trial, participants assigned to "the Coach" intervention will have a touch-screen computer placed in their homes and be asked to interact with the Coach on a daily basis for 2 months. Participants will be asked to complete surveys at baseline and 2 months. The SCI Virtual Coach study aims to measure how accessible and usable participants feel the Coach is, as well as participants' adherence to the Coach's instructions. It will also gauge how effective the Coach is in changing self-care knowledge, health care behaviors, self-efficacy for self-care, and perception of social support in participants.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
40
Participants are given a computer with the SCI Virtual Coach program and are asked to interact with the Coach daily for 2 months.
New England Regional SCI Center, Boston University School of Public Health
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Standardized Usability Questionnaire
Evaluates the participant's self-reported experiences with the Coach on a number of characteristics, including ease of use, repetitiveness, and overall satisfaction.
Time frame: Report at 2 month exit survey
Health Education Impact Questionnaire - Skill Technique Acquisition
Self-report measure of the participant's feelings about their ability to do skin behavior tasks
Time frame: Baseline and 2 months
Skin Care Behavior Compliance
Self-report measure of compliance with behaviors to prevent skin care problems that lead to pressure ulcers
Time frame: Baseline and two months
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