Project Update: September, 2002

Focus Groups
We have concluded the initial round of focus groups and moved into a new phase of information gathering we call Structured Conversations. During these individual or small-group interviews, we follow up with current or past email users who have some cognitive impairment to discuss in depth topics brought up in previous focus groups or interviews. Because the participants have experience with email, we expect their suggestions and guidance to be very valuable.

Longitudinal Study
Participant Number One has completed the CORE (see below for description) and is almost ready to begin. After an abbreviated neuropsychological exam and some modifications to his home (preparing the space for the computer, installing the DSL, etc.), we plan to install the computer by the end of September. The participant is excited about the helping us learn about the utility of the modified email computer. He has requested email partners to be contacted. Even though the computer is not yet installed, we have already learned much about how to evaluate the needs of an individual with cognitive impairments for using email.

Our Participant Number Two has also been identified and will be ready to begin the evaluation process a few weeks after the first participant starts using the email program.

CORE
We have completed and piloted our evaluation process which we call CORE (Comprehensive Overview of Requisite Email Skills). It includes a sequence of procedures and protocols for evaluating needs, potential obstacles and strengths for each email user. CORE includes an assessment of current cognitive and physical abilities relevant to using email, in addition to specific preferences, such as mouse vs. keyboard navigation, voice prompt preferences, and keyboard use. The CORE process also involves an evaluation of the home environment and the email partner needs. This information will help us determine the best fit of the technology to the email user. We anticipate repeating most of the measures during the time they are using the system, as well as at the end of their participation in the study.

Email Retrospective Study
This retrospective study compares purposes of email use of three people with cognitive impairment with matched people without cognitive impairment. Recruitment and data collection of the three participants are complete. We are in the process of recruiting matched pairs without cognitive impairment. This study will analyze two months of sent email messages to find out who people write to, what they write about, the frequency of messages, how they respond to received emails, etc. We believe this is the first detailed examination of the purposes of email use by people with cognitive impairment.

Instructional Study
Preparation is well underway on this study that evaluates the benefits of a detailed instructional sequence for teaching email use to people with memory and executive functions. An instructional procedure has been developed which draws upon theories of Direct Instruction and Metacognitive Strategy Training. About six participants will receive the instruction and complete a battery of measures assessing the benefits of the instruction. Many of the measures are built in to the adapted email client that will be used for the instruction.