An approach to facilitate healthcare professionals' readiness to support technology use in everyday life for persons with dementia

Abstract

Everyday technologies (ETs) like microwave ovens and automatic telephone services as well as assistive technologies (ATs) are often used in the performance of everyday activities. As a consequence, the ability to manage technology is important. This pilot study aimed to clarify the applicability of a model for knowledge translation to support healthcare professionals, to support technology use among older adults with dementia and their significant others. An additional aim was to explore the process of translating the model into practice. The applicability of the model (comprising a one-day course, including introduction and provision of tools, followed by interviews during and after a period of practice) was clarified for 11 healthcare professionals using a constant comparative approach. The content of the model gave the participants an eye-opening experience of technology use among persons with dementia. They also described how they had incorporated the model as a new way of thinking which supported and inspired new investigations and collaborations with colleagues and significant others. This study provided an applicable model of how research knowledge about technology use can be translated into clinical practice and be used by healthcare professionals to support the use of technology for persons with dementia.

Key words::

• Assistive technology
• constant comparative approach
• everyday technology
• focus-group interviews
• older adults

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the healthcare professionals for taking part in this study and sharing their experiences. Furthermore, the authors would like to thank research assistants Pernilla Lundh and Sofia Starkhammar for their assistance in data collection and transcription of interviews. This research was mainly funded by the Health Care Sciences Postgraduate School. Financial support was also provided through the Swedish Institute of Assistive Technology, Swedish Brainpower, the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS), and the regional agreement on medical training and clinical research (ALF) between Stockholm County Council and the Karolinska Institutet.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.