Perceived difficulties using everyday technology after acquired brain injury: Influence on activity and participation

Abstract

Using everyday technology (ET) is a prerequisite for activities and participation at home and in the community. It is well known that persons with an acquired brain injury (ABI) can have limitations in activities of daily living but our knowledge of their difficulties using ET is not known. Thirty-six persons (27 men and 9 women, mean age 44 years, age range 26–60) with an ABI (2–10 years post injury) were interviewed, using the Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire (ETUQ), about their perceived difficulties using ET and how these difficulties influenced their everyday activities and their possibilities to participate at home and in the community. A majority (78%) of the persons reported difficulties using ET. The most common difficulties were related to the use of telecommunication and computers. Despite these difficulties, a majority still used most objects and services independently. Twenty-six participants (72%) perceived that their difficulties using ET influenced their everyday activities and their possibility to participate at home and in the community. The results indicate that rehabilitation following an ABI should consider whether clients' use of ET influences their activity and participation and adopt interventions accordingly. The results also indicate that difficulties using ET need to be considered in the design of community services to prevent societal barriers.

Key words::

• Activities of daily living
• brain injuries
• participation
• technology

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all participants for sharing their experiences. The authors are grateful to Associate Professor Louise Nygård and PhD Lena Rosenberg, Division of Occupational Therapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Nygård, together with colleagues, developed the ETUQ and gave us permission to use the questionnaire. Nygård and Rosenberg kindly shared their research experiences of the use of everyday technology with people with cognitive disabilities and introduced us to the use of the ETUQ and, also, guided us during data collection. This study was part of the Cognition and Technology (CogniTech) project, conducted within the Swedish Institute of Assistive Technology and supported financially by the Swedish Inheritance Fund. Dr Maria Larsson Lund is supported by a post-doc grant from the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research. Dr Jan Lexell completed the study as part of the Centre for Ageing and Supportive Environments (CASE) at Lund University, funded by the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research.