A needs analysis approach: an investigation of clothing for women with chronic neurological disorders

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to investigate the clothing needs assessment of women with SCI and MS as chronic neurological disorders, using the application of the Functional, Expressive, and Aesthetic (FEA) Consumer Needs Model to collect suitable design ideas that reflect end-users’ true preferences and desires for adaptive clothing. Data were collected from the three different groups ((a) six health professionals, (b) six caregivers/family members of patients, and (c) six female patients) through individual interviews to identify the needs. Overall, all participants perceived that adaptive clothing should be improved to meet the needs of the wearers. Consequently, improving the functionality and aesthetics of adaptive clothing would boost the wearer’s mood and assist her in expressing her individuality and normality like everybody else.

KEYWORDS:

• FEA needs
• adaptive clothing
• women
• neurological disorders

Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges Dr. Janice Smolowitz, Dean, School of Nursing and Dr. Courtney Reinisch, Director of Undergraduate Nursing at Montclair State University that helped her recruitment. Also, the author acknowledges the three groups of all the individual interview participants who contributed their time to provide valuable comments for this study: (1) Six health professionals: Ms. Carrie Sammarco (nurse practitioner) and Ms. Dori Goldman (therapist) at NYU Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center; Ms. Robin Bischoff (nurse manager of the spinal cord unit), Ms. Mary Zales (spinal clinical coordinator), and Ms. Sharon Sellier (spinal clinical coordinator) at Kessler Rehabilitation Center in West Orange, NJ; and Ms. Diane Babek (nursing coordinator of the movement disorders program) at Overlook Hospital in Summit NJ; (2) Four caregivers who aid spinal cord injury patients at the Kessler Rehabilitation Center did not want to reveal their full names but only their first names: Allison, Wendy, Sadie, and Tammy. In addition, two men, husbands of two patients, participated in the interview; and (3) Six patients: Ms. Jeanine Valenti (SCI), Ms. Jennifer Beaver (SCI), Ms. Aquilla Daniels (SCI), Ms. Joanie Anastasi (SCI), Ms. Linda Klersey (MS), and Ms. Jocelyn Vopni (MS).

Disclosure statement

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