The ACESO platform has undergone rigorous testing and pilot studies involving primary and secondary end-users across three countries: Romania (RO), Poland (PL), and Slovenia (SLO).
Engaging the Users
A crucial aspect of the ACESO development process has been the inclusion of primary and secondary end-users in the testing phase. In the initial round of pilot studies, 60 primary and 30 secondary users were actively engaged. These users provided valuable feedback through structured and semi-structured questionnaires, shedding light on various aspects of the platform.
In the subsequent phase, 38 primary and 22 secondary users from the pilot countries put the integrated ACESO platform to the test. Notably, all primary users fell within the age bracket of 65 to 85 years, emphasizing the platform's relevance for the elderly. The secondary users comprised a diverse group, including dental practitioners, medical doctors, dental hygienists, nurses, residents, and geriatricians.
Positive Feedback and Acceptance
The feedback from both rounds of pilots was overwhelmingly positive. Users expressed satisfaction with the individual components as well as the integrated platform. The acceptance rate was high, attesting to ACESO's adaptability and user-friendly nature. The impact on participants, especially the elderly, was notable, indicating the platform's potential to benefit users and caregivers.
Integrated Sensor Technology
The core of the ACESO platform lies in its integration of sensors that monitor various health, oral health, and well-being parameters. For general health and well-being, commercial sensors were seamlessly incorporated. An Android application was developed to facilitate automatically transmitting sensor values to a tablet, relaying the data to the ACESO server. An intelligent toothbrush developed by CITST captured essential metrics such as brushing quality, duration, and frequency on oral health. Additionally, data on the usage of salivary stimulation devices were automatically retrieved, transforming manual devices into intelligent ones.
Comprehensive Insights
The Aceso Platform aggregates all relevant data to provide a holistic view of a user's health. Caregivers can access this information to monitor and diagnose potential issues early, especially in the context of older adults. Users themselves are empowered with a history of collected data, fostering informed decision-making and proactive health management.
Diverse Recruitment and Inclusion Criteria
One hundred ten primary users (30 in Romania, 30 in Slovenia, and 50 in Poland) and 39 secondary users (14 in Romania, 10 in Slovenia, and 15 in Poland) were recruited for the pilot studies. Inclusion-exclusion criteria and end-user classification methods were meticulously defined, ensuring a diverse and representative participant pool.
In conclusion, ACESO's journey through pilot studies has been marked by user collaboration, positive feedback, and technological innovation. The platform's potential to contribute to informed decisions with real-world data about health for the elderly and beyond is evident, setting the stage for a future where smart and sustainable healthcare is within everyone's reach.
About Aceso
ACESO is a patient-centric solution for smart and sustainable healthcare, employing a co-creative approach to realize an integrated health and oral-care platform in which intelligent devices use data analytics for adaptable health and well-being. ACESO will monitor parameters related to physical health (blood pressure, glucose, heart rate, oxygen saturation, etc.), activity, sleep, and oral hygien, providing primary users with personalized and adaptive feedback extracted by the underlying artificial intelligence engine. A patient-centric approach involving users in maintaining their health will bring clear benefits for the elderly and caregivers. AAL funds Aceso. More about Aceso...
About AAL
Active Assisted Living Programme
Aging Well in the Digital World - is a funding program that aims to create a better quality of life for older people and strengthen industrial opportunities in healthy aging technology and innovation. More about AAL.
Contact: www.aal-aceso.eu/contact