Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.
Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.
Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2023 Oct;18(7):989-997. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2021.1963856. Epub 2021 Aug 17.
Little is known regarding what assistive technology (AT) exists and how it is used in welfare services for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). This study aimed to explore healthcare staff's perspectives and insights regarding AT in daily support and welfare services for people with ID. We also sought to explore the associations between the use of AT and workplace-related factors and background characteristics (e.g., gender, age, and experience).
Three focus group discussions were conducted with 11 informants (8 women, 3 men) working in home-based and day services. Also, 176 healthcare staff (43 men, 133 women) who worked in municipal home-based services and day services completed a questionnaire comprised of background questions and 14 items with a five-point answer scale.
Number of years using AT was positively associated with a positive attitude and use of AT among the staff. Staff were mainly positive towards AT and believed that it could represent various possibilities in the everyday lives of people with ID and their own service delivery. However, the staff expressed uncertainties and ethical concerns regarding AT, and they experienced a lack of knowledge, focus, and awareness about technology in services for this group. The quantitative results mainly showed positive associations between believing in AT's usefulness and using it in services for people with ID.
The findings indicate that providing equipment and resources, personal interests, and staff attitudes are essential factors in successfully implementing AT for people with ID.Implications for rehabilitationHealthcare staff have a positive attitude towards using AT for people with intellectual disabilities, but they also perceive uncertainty and ethical concerns.The staff believe that there is a broad range of AT devices and systems available that can support the independence and participation of people with intellectual disabilities.The staff need to receive more training and technical supports from their workplace and AT-related experience is associated positively with the use of assistive technology by the staff.
对于辅助技术（AT）的存在及其在智障人士（ID）福利服务中的使用方式，我们知之甚少。本研究旨在探讨医疗保健人员对智障人士日常支持和福利服务中 AT 的看法和见解。我们还试图探讨 AT 的使用与工作场所相关因素和背景特征（例如，性别、年龄和经验）之间的关联。
对 11 名在家庭和日间服务中工作的知情人（8 名女性，3 名男性）进行了 3 次焦点小组讨论。此外，176 名在市家庭服务和日间服务中工作的医疗保健人员（43 名男性，133 名女性）完成了一份由背景问题和 14 个五分制答案组成的问卷。
使用 AT 的年限与员工的积极态度和使用 AT 呈正相关。员工对 AT 主要持积极态度，并认为它可以代表智障人士日常生活和自身服务提供的各种可能性。然而，员工对 AT 表示不确定和伦理关注，并且他们在智障人士服务中缺乏有关技术的知识、重点和意识。定量结果主要显示了对 AT 有用性的信念与将其用于 ID 人士服务之间的积极关联。
研究结果表明，为 ID 人士提供设备和资源、个人兴趣以及员工态度是成功实施 AT 的重要因素。
医疗保健人员对为智障人士使用 AT 持积极态度，但他们也感到不确定和存在伦理问题。员工认为有广泛的 AT 设备和系统可用于支持智障人士的独立性和参与度。员工需要从工作场所获得更多的培训和技术支持，并且与 AT 相关的经验与员工对辅助技术的使用呈正相关。
