The match between everyday technology in public space and the ability of working-aged people with ABI to use it

• Published in: British Journal of Occupational Therapy
• Main Authors: Malinowsky, Camilla, Larsson Lund, Maria
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Inst för neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle / Dept of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society 2016
• Subjects: Luleå
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10616/45010

Introduction: In today’s society, the access to and use of everyday technology (ET), such as cell phones and Internet-based services, can be claimed as conditions for participation in many tasks in everyday life. This study aims to determine and compare levels of perceived access to and perceived difficulties in the use of common ETs in the public space among people with acquired brain injury (ABI) compared with controls. Methods: The perceived access to and difficulty in the use of 14 ETs were investigated in a sample with ABI (n=59, returned to work (RTW, n=28)/not returned to work (NRTW, n =31) and matched controls (n=52) using the Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire. Findings: Perceived access to the ETs was generally high. The potential to use each of the ETs independently or with minor difficulties significantly differed between controls and persons with ABI in eight of the fourteen ETs. Particularly, difficulties were found among those with ABI-NRTW. Conclusion: People with ABI perceive access to ETs commonly used in public space, but the ET difficulty is not always satisfactory matched to their ability to use ET. To enable participation in society, it is important to consider both the accessibility and usability of ET. Luleå University of Technology Promobilia Foundation Strategic Research Health Care Programme of Umeå University Accepted