Functional Skills Training for Supermarket Shopping Using NFC Technology in People With Intellectual Disabilities

The general objective of the "Compra con-Migo" project is to evaluate the impact of a technological tool based on NFC (Near Field Communication) technology on the development of cognitive and instrumental skills necessary to carry out the activity of shopping in supermarkets in people with intellectual disabilities. Specifically, it is intended to analyze the evolution of performance in tasks such as planning, product recognition, calculation, payment and functional autonomy, after the use of an adapted gamified application.

The research is structured as a pilot, analytical, longitudinal and prospective study, without a control group, with evaluations in three moments: pre-intervention, intermediate and post-intervention. This methodological decision responds both to ethical criteria, by avoiding denying a potentially beneficial intervention, and to logistical limitations typical of institutional environments. Statistical analysis will be performed with R, using analysis tools for repeated measurements, both parametric and non-parametric, as appropriate.

The study population is composed of adults with intellectual disabilities, aged between 18 and 65 years, who regularly take part in therapy sessions in specialized centers. A sample of between 34 and 40 participants is expected. The intervention will be carried out in various Care Centers for People with Disabilities (CAPD) and associations in Galicia (Spain), specifically in the CAPD of A Coruña, Chapela, Sarria, Souto de Leixa and the O Saiar Occupational Center.

This study will not only evaluate the use of the tool in real environments, but also generate evidence applicable to its future implementation in other contexts. The proposal is aligned with the principles of accessibility, technological innovation and social inclusion, and seeks to offer a structured, motivating and effective therapeutic resource.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Neurologic Manifestations; Intellectual Disabilities (F70-F79)
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: App training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • A Coruña
    • A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain, 15008
      • Centro de Investigación en TIC (CITIC)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• People with disabilities who regularly participate in therapy sessions.
• People with disabilities within the age range between 18 and 65 years.
• Participants who agree and have signed the informed consent to participate in the study and the authorization for data collection.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with disabilities that limit the ability to interact with the tool (e.g., severe visual, hearing, or cognitive difficulties) that significantly limit the ability to interact with the tool.
• Participants who are unable to regularly attend scheduled therapy sessions, affecting consistency in the intervention.
• Participants with unstable medical or psychological conditions who may experience aggravation of their condition due to interaction with the tool.
• Participants who are involved in other interventions or studies that may influence the results of this protocol.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: General group

Other: App training; The intervention will take place over eight weeks, with a frequency of two weekly sessions in which participants will work with the "Compra con-Migo" (Shop with Me) application. Each session will be supervised by the center's professional, ensuring that the participant can interact with the application autonomously to the best of their ability. The following elements will be required for the development of each session: Intervention record document.; Tablet with the "Compra con-Migo" app installed.; Baskets.; Physical objects in representation of purchase products. The user will carry out the intervention, which will consist of completing five shopping lists pre-designed by the research team. Each list will involve scanning 5 objects and simulating a payment. After completing four weeks of intervention, an intermediate evaluation will be carried out to analyze the progress made so far. In addition, a proprietary evaluation tool will be applied.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Level of Performance Shown by the Participant During the Performance of the Purchase Simulation	The Basic Everyday Living Skills (BELS) scale will be administered. Standardized and validated tool in the Spanish context designed to assess changes in the performance of daily living skills. It is made up of 26 questions, each of which describes a specific behavior. Each question is divided into two scales: A three-part scale on the degree of opportunity to carry out activities independently.; A five-part scale on the actual level of completion of each activity of daily living.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Quality of Performance Shown by the Participant while Using the "Compra con-Migo" tool	A structured observation log designed by the investigators will be administered, attached by ad hoc observation record.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
Score in Dependency during Purchase Activity	The Lawton and Brody Scale will be used for the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. A standardized and validated tool in the Spanish context designed to assess the degree of functional autonomy of a person in the performance of instrumental tasks necessary to live independently in the community. This scale allows you to identify limitations in activities that are more complex than the basic ones, such as: using the telephone, preparing meals or making purchases. Each item is scored based on the level of independence or dependence with which the person performs the task, giving rise to a total score that allows the level of autonomy of the person being evaluated to be categorized, from 0 (total dependence) to 8 (independence).	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
Total Number of Errors made by the Participant when Selecting or Scanning the Wrong Products	Automatic registration by the application.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
Errors at the Calculation and Payment Stage	Number of errors when making the payment (incorrect use of coins/notes, wrong scanning). Automatic registration by the application.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
Time of Completion of the Activity	Total time (in seconds) from the start to the end of the shopping list.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
Level of Satisfaction, Usability and Quality of the "Compra con-Migo" Tool by Professionals.	A structured record designed by the researchers.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidade da Coruña
• Collaborators: Ministry of Social Policy and Youth - Xunta de Galicia; European Union - NextGenerationEU
• Investigators: Study Director: María Martínez Pérez, Computer Science, Universidade da Coruña; Study Director: Betania Groba Gonzalez, Ocupational Therapy, Universidade da Coruña; Study Director: Patricia Concheiro Moscoso, Ocupational Therapy, Universidade da Coruña

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 2, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 21, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): November 23, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 8, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 16, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 22, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 16, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Intellectual Disabilities; gamification; Physical Disabilities; NFC; adaptive technology
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Neurologic Manifestations; Intellectual Disability
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2025-023

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No