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Individual variability and environmental characteristics influence older adults' abilities to manage everyday technology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2011

Camilla Malinowsky ,
Ove Almkvist ,
Louise Nygård  and
Anders Kottorp
Camilla Malinowsky*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational Therapy, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Ove Almkvist
Affiliation:
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational Therapy, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Louise Nygård
Affiliation:
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational Therapy, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Anders Kottorp
Affiliation:
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational Therapy, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Camilla Malinowsky, Division of Occupational Therapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Box 23200, S-141 83 Huddinge, Sweden. Phone: +46 (8) 524 837 52; Fax: +46 (8) 34 50 14. Email: camilla.malinowsky@ki.se.
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Abstract

Background: The ability to manage everyday technology (ET), such as computers and microwave ovens, is increasingly required in the performance of everyday activities and participation in society. This study aimed to identify aspects that influence the ability to manage ET among older adults with and without cognitive impairment.

Methods: Older adults with mild Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment and without known cognitive impairment were assessed as they managed their ET at home. Data were collected using the Management of Everyday Technology Assessment (META). Rasch-based measures of the person's ability to manage ET were analyzed. These measures were used as dependent variables in backward procedure ANOVA analyses. Different predefined aspects that could influence the ability to manage ET were used as independent variables.

Results: Three aspects had a significant effect upon the ability to manage ET. These were: (1) variability in intrapersonal capacities (such as “the capacity to pay attention and focus”, (2) environmental characteristics (such as “the impact of the design”) and (3) diagnostic group.

Conclusions: Variability in intrapersonal capacities seems to be of more importance than the actual level of intrapersonal capacity in relation to the ability to manage ET for this sample. This implies that investigations of ability to manage ET should also include intraperson variability. Additionally, adaptations in environmental characteristics could simplify the management of ET to support older adults as technology users.

Keywords

Alzheimer's diseasemild cognitive impairmentADLIADL
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , March 2012 , pp. 484 - 495
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2011

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