The experience of using prompting technology from the perspective of people with Dementia and their primary carers

Abstract

Objectives

People who are living with dementia typically experience difficulties in completing multi-step, everyday tasks. However, digital technology such as touchscreen tablets provide a means of delivering concise personalised prompts that combine audio, text and pictures. This study was one component of a broader, mixed methods study that tested how an application (app) –based prompter running on a touchscreen tablet computer could support everyday activities in individuals with mild to moderate dementia. In this study we set out to understand the experiences of people living with dementia and their primary carer in using the prompter over a four-week period.

Method

We collected qualitative data using semi-structured interviews from 26 dyads, composed of a person living with dementia and their carer. Dyads were interviewed at the start and end of this period. Transcripts were then analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

The study identified three overarching themes related to: participants’ attitudes towards the technology; their judgements about how useful the prompter would be; and the emotional impact of using it.

Conclusion

Consistent with the Technology Acceptance Model, carers and participants were influenced by their approaches to technology and determined the usefulness of the prompter according to whether it worked for them and fitted into their routines. In addition, participants’ decisions about using the prompter were also determined by the extent to which doing so would impact on their self-identity.

Keywords:

• Alzheimer ‘s disease
• Dementia
• reminder systems
• activities of daily living
• technology

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank everyone who participated in our studies.

This work was supported by the Dunhill Medical Trust (grant number R399/0215)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The study received ethics permission on 16/04/16 from the South-West Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee (ref: 16/SW/0038), IRAS Project ID: 1885151, and was reviewed and approved by the Health Research Authority in England. Amendment number 01/11/2017, was approved on the 8^th January 2018

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The Dunhill Medical Trust [grant number R399/0215].