Technology

New Driver Training Developed at Cincinnati Children’s Keeps Teens with ADHD Safer Behind the Wheel

Published

2 years ago

December 1, 2022

Integrated Desktop and Simulator Training Reduced Crash Risk by 40%

CINCINNATI, Dec. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Roadways can be a dangerous place for teen drivers, even more so for those diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This is because those with ADHD may have difficulty sustaining visual attention to the roadway, especially when distracted.

“This training improves attention, reduces crash risk, and has the potential to save lives.” — Jeff Epstein, PhD

Now, an ADHD driver’s training program developed at Cincinnati Children’s reports success at reducing the frequency of long, distracted glances away from the road that often occur among youth with ADHD. Details were published December 1, 2022, in The New England Journal of Medicine.

“This training improves teen drivers’ attention to the roadway, reduces crash risk and has the potential to save lives,” says the study’s principal investigator Jeff Epstein, PhD, a pediatric psychologist with the Division of Behavioral Medicine & Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children’s.

Trainees Had Fewer Crashes/Near-Crashes

The study details outcomes of the FOCAL+ training program, which expands upon a desktop-based software platform called FOcused Concentration and Attention Learning (FOCAL). This study enrolled 152 teen drivers with ADHD, aged 16-19, and split them into two groups. The 76 teens assigned to FOCAL+ participated in multiple training sessions that involved wearing special eye-tracking monitors that detect “long” glances (2 seconds or more) away from the roadway during simulated driving.

When long glances away from the road occurred while drivers were performing secondary tasks in the simulator (i.e., searching for a visual symbol on the driving console), an alarm sounded. The 76 teen drivers assigned to the control group learned about driver safety and then, like the FOCAL+ drivers, participated in multiple training sessions while wearing an eye tracker which required them to perform the same secondary task as the FOCAL+ group. However, control drivers did not get alerts when they glanced away from the road for too long.

One month after training, teens in the control group had 28.05 long glances during driving simulation per drive compared to just 16.52 long glances for the FOCAL+ group—a 41% difference. Six months later, both groups slightly improved at avoiding long glances, but those who received the FOCAL+ training maintained a 42% edge. The study also reports that non-trained drivers were more variable than trained ones in their lane position–a driving indicator related to crash risk.

To measure the impact of the training on real-world driving, drivers in both groups had an eye-tracking camera attached to the windshield in their vehicles for a year. Teens who received FOCAL+ training had fewer long-glances and crashes and near crashes than the control group. In fact, there were 40% fewer crashes and near crashes among the FOCAL+ trained group (3.4%) than the control group (5.6%). None of the crashes involved fatalities.

These findings suggest teens with ADHD were able to generalize trained skills to real-life settings, Epstein says.

Next Steps

As a result of the success of the study, Cincinnati Children’s is now offering this training to teens with ADHD. The five-session program will cost $250. Those interested in participating can call 513-636-8107 or visit the website to see if they or their teen qualify.

“Our ultimate goal is to make this training available to all teen drivers with ADHD,” said Epstein. “The hope is to reduce teen driving injuries and fatalities and to provide parents with added comfort about their teen driver’s safety.”

Epstein notes that the sample of drivers in this study was limited to one geographic region and results may not be the same for drivers in other regions. But the results justify pursuing the programs further. The team plans to apply for grants to further investigate program efficacy.

The program founders also are studying ways to expand the program to other ADHD care providers, and perhaps other driving instruction providers.

The challenges ahead include scaling up the program and finding supporting sponsors.

Video, sound and photos are available at link below. Please courtesy Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
https://spaces.hightail.com/space/EWZGcXantm

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SOURCE Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Technology

Max Stock Limited Announces Change in Shares Held by an Interested Party

Published

2 hours ago

November 24, 2024

CAESAREA, Israel, Nov. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Max Stock Limited (TASE: MAXO(; )the “Company”, “Max Stock“) today announced that on November 20th, 2024, Phoenix Financial Ltd. and Phoenix Investment House Ltd. (“Phoenix reporting group”), including their respective nostro account, provident funds and provident fund management companies, as well as mutual fund management companies and market maker sub entities, informed the Company that they had sold shares of the Company thereby lowering their joint holdings to 4.8% of the Company’s issued capital (4.15% and 0.65% respectively). As a result, Phoenix reporting group will no longer be an interested party in the Company.

This is an English translation of segments of a Hebrew immediate report that was published on November 24, 2024 (Ref. No: 2024-01-618032) (hereinafter: the “Hebrew Version”). This English version is only for convenience purposes. This is not an official translation and has no binding force. In the event of any discrepancy between the Hebrew Version and this translation, the Hebrew Version shall prevail.

About Max Stock

Max Stock is Israel’s leading extreme value retailer, currently present in 64 locations throughout Israel and 2 locations in Portugal. We offer a broad assortment of quality products for customers’ everyday needs at affordable prices, helping customers “Dream Big, Pay Small”. For more information, please visit https://ir.maxstock.co.il

Company Contacts:

Talia Sessler,
Chief Corporate Development and IR Officer
talia@maxstock.co.il

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SOURCE Max Stock Limited

Technology

Qatar Development Bank announces strategic investment in global Islamic FinTech, Wahed

Published

6 hours ago

November 24, 2024

DOHA, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Qatar Development Bank (QDB) announces a strategic investment in Wahed, a global Shariah-compliant fintech.

Wahed currently manages over $1 billion in assets and has attracted over 400,000 clients worldwide. The company is built on the principles of democratizing access to financial services and offers clients access to Shariah-compliant investments in its mobile app. Wahed removes the barriers to sophisticated investment management services that have been traditionally reserved for high-net-worth investors.

Khalid Al Jassim, Executive Chairman of Wahed MENA said: ‘We are delighted to welcome our new shareholders, QDB. We believe Qatar is fully aligned with our mission in creating a technology-first Islamic finance leader that unlocks a financial ecosystem free from Riba. We look forward to supporting the Qatar National Vision 2030 of becoming a leading knowledge-based economy.

Ali Rahimtula, Partner at Cue Ball Capital said: “Qatar Development Bank’s strategic investment is a clear signal of the faith the industry has in Wahed and its ability to create the future of Islamic Finance.”

About Wahed

Founded in 2015, Wahed is a financial technology company that is advancing financial inclusion through accessible, affordable, and values-based investing. The company has made significant inroads in the world Shariah compliant investing by creating an easy-to-use digital platform that provides a suite of Shariah compliant investing products including managed portfolios and venture and real estate investments. Wahed caters to over 400,000 customers globally and manages over $ 1 billion in assets.

For more information, visit: www.wahed.com

About Qatar Development Bank

Qatar Development Bank’s mission is to advance the economic and innovation development cycle of Qatar, supporting and contributing to the nation’s economic diversification. As well as a focus on the development of Qatar’s private sector, QDB is a powerful catalyst for socio-economic development in the country, empowering the local economy and bettering living standards.

For more information, visit: https://www.qdb.qa/

SOURCE Wahed

Technology

Wahed appoints Khalid Al Jassim as Executive Chairman of Wahed MENA to help guide the strategic growth of Wahed in the region

Published

6 hours ago

November 24, 2024

DOHA, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Wahed, a global Shariah-compliant fintech, has appointed Khalid Al Jassim as Chairman of Wahed MENA.

On this appointment, Khalid commented, ”I am excited to guide Wahed’s growth in the region. Wahed’s mission of furthering Islamic Finance is one I resonate with deeply and I look forward to supporting its growth ambitions.”

Khalid has over twenty five years of investment banking and corporate advisory experience gained with some of the most innovative and groundbreaking institutions in the world.

His career spans leading firms including SABIC, Arthur Anderson and Arcapita Bank in Bahrain, where he was instrumental in making it into one of the PE powerhouses in the region. His responsibilities started in the earlier years with establishing the Investment Placement Team and transforming it into one of the most robust teams in the industry. At the time that Khalid left Arcapita to build his personal business, he was an Executive Director. Today he is Chairman of Afkar Vision, a private advisory house specialized in mergers and acquisitions with offices in Manama, Dubai and Riyadh.

As well as being one of the earliest investors in Wahed, he is currently Chairman of the Audit Committee and Board Member at Bahrain Islamic Bank, the 4th oldest Islamic Bank in the World and Board Member at SICO Bank and SICO Capital in Saudi, an $8bn asset manager in the region.

Mohsin Siddiqui, Wahed CEO said, “We are delighted to announce Khalid’s appointment. His unique understanding of the financial landscape in the MENA region is unparalleled and we are excited to bring this expertise in continuing to grow our presence in the region.”

About Wahed

For more information, visit: www.wahed.com

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