Response actions to difficulties in using everyday technology after acquired brain injury

Abstract

Purpose: People with acquired brain injury (ABI) have difficulties using everyday technology (ET) in daily tasks at home and in the society. To support them managing the demands imposed by using ET, knowledge is needed about their response actions to the difficulties that occur during task performance, their conditions and efficiency. The aim of this study was to explore and describe what characterizes response actions to difficulties using ET, their conditions and how they influence the experiences of tasks in daily life among people with ABI.Methods: Interviews and observations were undertaken with thirteen men and women with an ABI. Data were analyzed qualitatively using the constant comparative method. Results:The participants' response actions were categorized as (i) deliberately and organized planning, (ii) random and inflexible repeating (iii), re-evaluating tasks, (iv) explaining difficulties related to others, and (iv) proving and protecting capability. Certain conditions were decisive for the different response actions to be applied and also for their effectiveness in enabling engagement in tasks in daily life. Each participant used several type of response actions and the same action could be applied in several situations. Conclusion:To support people with an ABI to manage the demands imposed by using ET, it is important to identify the uniqueness of each client and his or her response actions to difficulties using ET and thereafter adjust the interventions accordingly.

Learning and using technology in intertwined processes: A study of people with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease

“…The management strategies that appeared among our participants concur with strategies that have been found in other studies in the context of everyday life in general among people with dementia (Clare, 2003; Harman & Clare, 2006; Nygård, 2004; Oyebode et al., 2009; Preston et al., 2007) or acquired brain injury (Larsson Lund, Lövgren Engström, & Lexell, 2012). Interestingly, our participants also used communication with and guidance from the technology as a management strategy, indicating that high-quality cues given by technology could serve as a built-in support for learning and using everyday technology for people with MCI or AD.…”

Work and everyday life in a digitalized time: Experiences of people with subjective cognitive difficulties related to neurological disorders

“…The participants had adopted management strategies to prevent or solve problems on their own both at work and in daily activities that were decisive for their possibility to continue working. This finding concurs with previous research [ 48 , 49 ] showing how people with cognitive impairment use a variety of self-initiated strategies to manage technology use and challenges in daily activities. The results indicate, similar to other research [ 49 ], a need to systematically assess each person’s management strategies in vocational rehabilitation.…”

The Characteristics of Perceived Difficulties in Everyday Technology Use among Individuals with Acquired Brain Injury Compared to That among Controls

“…Moreover, the perceived difficulties of using ET ("use independently with difficulty" + "use with assistance of someone else"; Figure 3) were higher compared to the control group. Various difficulties of using ET have been identified and discussed in recent studies on elderly patients with dementia [11] [25] and people with ABI [15] [21]. Several types of ETs exist, and are es-sential for convenient modern day lives [10].…”

“…Fallahpour et al identified that the perceived difficulty in using ET is significantly increased among individuals with ABI with severe to moderate disability compared with controls [20], but this study did not include the situation of using ET. Occupational therapists are required to pay attention to the extent to which people with ABI have difficulty using ET due to their cognitive dysfunction [21].…”