School of Health Sciences, Ulster University, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland.
School of Nursing, Ulster University, Magee, Northern Ireland.
BMC Geriatr. 2023 Feb 1;23(1):62. doi: 10.1186/s12877-023-03751-2.
Technology innovation provides an opportunity to support the rising number of people living with dementia globally. The present study examines experiences of people who have dementia and live in technology enriched supported care models. Additionally, it explores caregiver's attitudes towards technology use with the housing scheme.
A qualitative research design was adopted, and eight housing schemes consented to take part in the study. A technology audit was undertaken in addition to participant interviews and caregiver survey. Seven peer researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 22 people living with dementia. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Informal and formal caregivers were invited to complete a survey to capture their attitudes towards technology use. A total of 20 informal and 31 formal caregiver surveys were returned. All surveys were input into Survey Monkey and downloaded into excel for analysis. Closed questions were analysed using descriptive statistics and open-ended questions were organised into themes and described descriptively.
The technology audit identified that technologies were in place from as early as 2002. Technology heterogeneity of, both passive and active devices, was found within the housing schemes. Technologies such as wearable devices were reportedly used according to need, and mobile phone use was widely adopted. The themes that developed out of the tenant interviews were: Attitudes and Engagement with Technology; Technology Enhancing Tenants Sense of Security; Seeking Support and Digital Literacy; and Technology Enabled Connection. A lack of awareness about living alongside technology was a major finding. Technologies enabled a sense of reassurance and facilitated connections with the wider community. The interaction with technology presented challenges, for example, remembering passwords, access to Wi-Fi and the identification of its use in an emergency. The caregiver survey reported a range of facilitators and barriers for the use of technology within care. Both types of caregivers held relatively similar views around the benefits of technology, however their views on issues such as privacy and consent varied. Safety was considered more important than right to privacy by family caregivers.
The present study provides new insight into stakeholder's experiences of living, working and caregiving alongside technology in supported living environments. As the generation of people living with dementia become more tech savvy, harnessing everyday technologies to support care could enable holistic care and support the transition through the care continuum. Advance care planning and technology assessments are at the very core of future technology provision. It is evident that a paternalistic attitudes towards technology use could impact the multitude of benefits technology can play in both health and leisure for people living with dementia and their caregivers.
技术创新为支持全球日益增多的痴呆症患者提供了机会。本研究调查了居住在技术丰富的支持性护理模式中的痴呆症患者的体验。此外，它还探讨了护理人员对住房计划中技术使用的态度。
采用定性研究设计，有 8 个住房计划同意参与研究。除了参与者访谈和护理人员调查外，还进行了技术审计。7 名同行研究人员对半结构化访谈了 22 名患有痴呆症的人。使用主题分析对访谈进行分析。邀请非正式和正式护理人员完成一份调查，以了解他们对技术使用的态度。共收到 20 份非正式护理人员和 31 份正式护理人员的调查回复。所有的调查都输入到 Survey Monkey 中，并下载到 excel 中进行分析。封闭问题采用描述性统计分析，开放问题组织成主题并进行描述性描述。
技术审计发现，早在 2002 年就已经有技术投入使用。住房计划中发现了被动和主动设备的技术异质性。据报道，可穿戴设备等技术根据需要使用，移动电话的使用也很广泛。从租户访谈中发展出来的主题是：对技术的态度和参与度；技术增强租户的安全感；寻求支持和数字素养；以及技术支持的连接。一个主要的发现是缺乏对与技术共存的认识。技术使人感到安心，并促进了与更广泛社区的联系。与技术的互动带来了挑战，例如，忘记密码、访问 Wi-Fi 以及识别紧急情况下的技术使用。护理人员调查报告了在护理中使用技术的一系列促进因素和障碍。两种类型的护理人员对技术的好处持相对相似的观点，但他们对隐私和同意等问题的看法存在差异。家庭护理人员认为安全比隐私权更重要。
本研究提供了新的见解，了解利益相关者在支持性居住环境中与技术一起生活、工作和护理的体验。随着患有痴呆症的人群越来越精通技术，利用日常技术来支持护理可以实现整体护理，并支持通过护理连续体的过渡。预先护理计划和技术评估是未来技术提供的核心。显然，对技术使用的家长式态度可能会影响技术在痴呆症患者及其护理人员的健康和休闲方面所能发挥的诸多益处。
