Sonam Zamir1, Felicity Allman2, Catherine Hagan Hennessy3, Adrian Haffner Taylor4, Ray Brian Jones1. 1. School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom. 2. School of Medical Education, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. 3. Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom. 4. Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Video-calls have proven to be useful for older care home residents in improving socialization and reducing loneliness. Nonetheless, to facilitate the acceptability and usability of a new technological intervention, especially among people with dementia, there is a need for user-led design improvements. The current study conducted focus groups with an embedded activity with older people to allow for a person-centered design of a video-call intervention. METHODS: Twenty-eight residents across four care homes in the South West of England participated in focus groups to aesthetically personalize and 'dress-up' the equipment used in a video-call intervention. Each care home was provided with a 'Skype on Wheels' (SoW) device, a wheelable 'chassis' comprising an iPad or tablet for access to Skype, and a telephone handset. During the focus group, residents were encouraged to participate in an activity using colorful materials to 'dress-up' SoW. Comments before, during and after the 'dress up' activity were audio recorded. Framework analysis was used to analyze the focus group data. RESULTS: Older people, including seven with dementia were able to interact with and implement design changes to SoW through aesthetic personalization. Themes arising from the data included estrangement, anthropomorphism, reminiscence, personalization, need for socialization versus fear of socialization and attitudes toward technology. After this brief exposure to SoW, residents expressed the likelihood of using video-calls for socialization in the future. CONCLUSION: Care home residents enjoy engaging with new technologies when given the opportunity to interact with it, to personalize it and to understand its purpose. Low cost aesthetic personalization of technologies can improve their acceptability, usability, and implementation within complex care environments.
BACKGROUND: Video-calls have proven to be useful for older care home residents in improving socialization and reducing loneliness. Nonetheless, to facilitate the acceptability and usability of a new technological intervention, especially among people with dementia, there is a need for user-led design improvements. The current study conducted focus groups with an embedded activity with older people to allow for a person-centered design of a video-call intervention. METHODS: Twenty-eight residents across four care homes in the South West of England participated in focus groups to aesthetically personalize and 'dress-up' the equipment used in a video-call intervention. Each care home was provided with a 'Skype on Wheels' (SoW) device, a wheelable 'chassis' comprising an iPad or tablet for access to Skype, and a telephone handset. During the focus group, residents were encouraged to participate in an activity using colorful materials to 'dress-up' SoW. Comments before, during and after the 'dress up' activity were audio recorded. Framework analysis was used to analyze the focus group data. RESULTS: Older people, including seven with dementia were able to interact with and implement design changes to SoW through aesthetic personalization. Themes arising from the data included estrangement, anthropomorphism, reminiscence, personalization, need for socialization versus fear of socialization and attitudes toward technology. After this brief exposure to SoW, residents expressed the likelihood of using video-calls for socialization in the future. CONCLUSION: Care home residents enjoy engaging with new technologies when given the opportunity to interact with it, to personalize it and to understand its purpose. Low cost aesthetic personalization of technologies can improve their acceptability, usability, and implementation within complex care environments.
Authors: Meg E Morris; Brooke Adair; Elizabeth Ozanne; William Kurowski; Kimberly J Miller; Alan J Pearce; Nick Santamaria; Maureen Long; Cameron Ventura; Catherine M Said Journal: Australas J Ageing Date: 2014-04-15 Impact factor: 2.111
Authors: Trisha Greenhalgh; Joe Wherton; Paul Sugarhood; Sue Hinder; Rob Procter; Rob Stones Journal: Soc Sci Med Date: 2013-06-13 Impact factor: 4.634
Authors: Tracy L Mitzner; Julie B Boron; Cara Bailey Fausset; Anne E Adams; Neil Charness; Sara J Czaja; Katinka Dijkstra; Arthur D Fisk; Wendy A Rogers; Joseph Sharit Journal: Comput Human Behav Date: 2010-11-01
Authors: Sumit Mehra; Tessa Dadema; Ben J A Kröse; Bart Visser; Raoul H H Engelbert; Jantine Van Den Helder; Peter J M Weijs Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2016-11-22