Applications of Assistive Technologies in Health Care Practices

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2025 | Viewed by 627

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Podiatry, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Universidad de Sevilla, 41009 Seville, Spain
Interests: diabetic foot; foot care; foot; infection; pain management; rheumatic diseases; diabetes related foot disease

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, scientific and technological advances have transformed medical care, improving patients' quality of life and optimizing clinical efficiency. Furthermore, these innovations enable more accurate diagnoses, personalized treatments, and continuous monitoring, addressing challenges such as population aging and the rise of chronic diseases. Continuous development is essential for improving quality of life and strengthening global healthcare systems.

This Special Issue aims to publish original studies and reviews, including clinical trials and observational studies, regarding the application of assistive technologies in health care practice. The methodologies used may include (but are not limited to) neuroimaging techniques such as (functional) magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography. Regarding reviews, we will consider narrative, systematic, umbrella reviews, and meta-analyses that examine specific review questions. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following: assistive technologies, ranging from hearing aids and wheelchairs to artificial intelligence and telemedicine, which facilitate healthcare access and enhance the autonomy of individuals with disabilities.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. María Reina-Bueno
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • assistive technologies
  • healthcare innovation
  • patient accessibility
  • rehabilitation devices
  • telemedicine solutions

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Other

13 pages, 245 KB  
Case Report
Noncontact Gesture-Based Switch Improves Communication Speed and Social Function in Advanced Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Case Report
by Daisuke Nishida, Takafumi Kinoshita, Tatsuo Hayakawa, Takashi Nakajima, Yoko Kobayashi, Takatoshi Hara, Ikushi Yoda and Katsuhiro Mizuno
Healthcare 2025, 13(22), 2989; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222989 - 20 Nov 2025
Viewed by 323
Abstract
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) enables digital access for individuals with severe motor impairment. Conventional contact-based switches rely on residual voluntary movement, limiting efficiency. We report the clinical application of a novel, researcher-developed noncontact assistive switch, the Augmentative Alternative Gesture Interface (AAGI), in [...] Read more.
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) enables digital access for individuals with severe motor impairment. Conventional contact-based switches rely on residual voluntary movement, limiting efficiency. We report the clinical application of a novel, researcher-developed noncontact assistive switch, the Augmentative Alternative Gesture Interface (AAGI), in a 39-year-old male with late-stage Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) retaining minimal motion. The AAGI converts subtle, noncontact gestures into digital inputs, enabling efficient computer operations. Before intervention, the participant used a conventional mechanical switch, achieving 12 characters per minute (CPM) in a 2 min text entry task and was unable to perform high-speed ICT tasks such as gaming or video editing. After 3 months of AAGI use, the input speed increased to 30 CPM (+2.5-fold), and previously inaccessible tasks became feasible. The System Usability Scale (SUS) improved from 82.5 to 90.0, indicating enhanced usability, whereas the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Social Functioning (+13) and Mental Health (+4) demonstrated meaningful gains. Daily living activities remained stable. This case demonstrates that the AAGI system, developed by our group can substantially enhance communication efficiency, usability, and social engagement in advanced DMD, highlighting its potential as a practical, patient-centered AAC solution that extends digital accessibility to individuals with severe motor disabilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Assistive Technologies in Health Care Practices)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop