18th enothe meeting, vilnius · (eg.: rosenberg, kottorp, et al., 2009; nygård, pantzar, uppgard...

18th ENOTHE Meeting, Vilnius

Manuela Ferreira

19th October 2012

Escola Superior de Saúde do Alcoitão

Portugal

Dealing with everyday technologies, which are

constantly developing, is a daily challenge for

those who seek an active ageing.

The need of use remote controls, cell phones or

computerized communication systems, only a

few examples of the many everyday technologies

that are increasing very rapidly, affects the older

adults with mild cognitive impairment or

dementia (Emiliani, 2006, quoted by Nygård,

Pantzar, Uppgard & Kottorp, 2011)

ENOTHE Meeting, Vilnius Manuela Ferreira

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We need sensitive instruments to detect

early signs of functional limitations in people

with this kind of difficulties.

Despite the increasing on using the

technology in our world, instruments for

assessing competency in Instrumental

Activities of Daily Living, that consider items

related to everyday technology, are difficult

to find.


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One of the few exceptions is the Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire ETUQ (Rosenberg, Nygård & Kottorp, 2009), a recently developed instrument, which is used to investigate the perceived relevance and difficulty in using everyday technology of people with or without cognitive impairment.

What makes ETUQ unique is that its full focus is on the perceived difficulty when using technology.


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In the development of the ETUQ, the

concept of everyday technology was defined

as electronic, technical, and mechanical

equipment that exists in the everyday lives

of the research participants, including both

well known and more recently developed

technological artifacts and services

(Rosenberg, Nygård & Kottorp, 2009).


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Different studies conducted by the authors

(eg.: Rosenberg, Kottorp, et al., 2009;

Nygård, Pantzar, Uppgard & Kottorp, 2011),

concluded that ETUQ is a sensitive tool for

detecting early limitations in everyday

functioning, focusing on everyday technology

use, for people with Alzheimer’s disease and

mild cognitive impairment .


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Linking the use of technology with the

elderly (with or without dementia or

cognitive impairment) and the cultural

and linguistic adaptation of a

contemporary assessment was our main

motivation.

The aim of this research was to carry

out a methodological and descriptive

study to translate, adapt and pilot this

instrument in Portugal.


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After getting the authorization from

the authors, we had to follow a training

with them to use ETUQ. This training is

essential.

Then we translated it into Portuguese.

Finally the perceived relevance of and

difficulty in using everyday technology

with older adults without known

cognitive impairment was undertaken.


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ETUQ Table 1. The eight Activity Areas in the Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire and number

and examples of Items in each Activity Area

Activity Area No. of Items Examples of Items

Household activities 21 Iron, microwave oven,

dishwasher

Activities in the home 23 Television, video/DVD player,

computer

Personal care 6 Razor, electric toothbrush

Power tools 7 Power mower, Electric drill

Accessibility 8 Elevator, code-operated door

lock

Data and

telecommunications 17 Cell phone, e-mail, Internet

Economy and shopping 6 Credit card, Internet banking

Transportation 6 Automated check-in at airport

Work and education 10 Telephone; reference and call

forwarding


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ETUQ

Scale Description

A Does not use the ET anymore or has not started to use it

even if it is available and perceived as relevant

B Always uses the ET together with another person

C The ET is sometimes used together with another person

D Uses the ET without another person, but with frequent/major

perceived difficulties

E Uses the ET without another person, but with minor

perceived difficulties

F Uses the ET without another person and without perceived

difficulties

Table 2. Description of the scale steps used in ETUQ

The ETUQ maps out the Everyday Technologies that

are perceived as relevant vs. irrelevant by each

respondent. A six-step scale is used to register answers

for the relevant Everyday Technologies.


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Table 3. Characteristics of the Participants in Terms of Gender, Age, Years of

Education, and Living Condition

Gender (%) Age Education (years) Living Condition

(%)

Female Male M SD Range M SD Range Single Cohabiting

59,1 40,9 77 6,26 64-88 6 4,84 0-16 68,2 31,8

In the current study, the sample consisted of 22 community-living people, aged 64 years or older, and included only people with no known cognitive impairment.

SAMPLE


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Table 4. Characteristics of the Participants in Terms of Profession

/ main former Profession / Work

Profession /main former profession /work F

Cook 3

Dressmaker 3

Housemaid 2

Office Worker 1

Rural worker 1

Marketing 1

Teacher 1

Secretarial 1

Tin-smith and handicraftsman 1

Hotel industry 1

Accounting 1

Taxi driver 1

Laboratories worker 1

Telephone operator 1

Supermarket worker 1

Customs police 1

Tax agent 1

Manuela Ferreira

SAMPLE

ENOTHE Meeting, Vilnius

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Table 5. Everyday Technologies not relevant for 100% of the participants


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Table 6. Everyday Technologies not relevant for 100% of the participants (conc.)


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Table 7. Everyday Technologies referred by the participants as used with

difficulties or together with another person


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Table 8. Everyday Technologies referred by the participants as used with

difficulties or together with another person (conc.)


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Fig.1 “Technologies that you have been particularly interested in or used

to handle earlier in your life”

n=2 n=2

n=2 n=2 n=2


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Fig.2 “Technologies that you have contact especially often or much in your

former vocational (work) life”

n=3 n=3 n=3

n=2

n=2


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Fig.3 “Technologies that you have received or purchased recently and that

you have not used or had before”

n=4 n=3

n=1 n=1 n=1

n=1 n=1


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Fig.4 “Are there any of these that are particularly important or significant

to you?”

n=4 n=3

n=2

n=2

“because it’s a

communication we can

do from anywhere to

anywhere”

“a question of safety

and communication”

“No, I don’t have any. The human contact was always more

important for me”

“The first sewing machine I

received it was my father and I

know how difficult it was for him

to buy it”

“At home, I got to make a pair of

pants on a night!” “It’s a distraction”

“Is where I use the

most of my spare

time”

“I never get tired of answering the phone”

“because of my work. Until there I didn’t

had an employment only did embroideries;

after that my life completely changed and I

moved from a place to another and I loved!”

“It’s always ready for

everything”

n=3

Manuela Ferreira

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Fig.5 Suggestions for new items


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The translation of ETUQ can be used in Portugal.

In a total of 104 items, only 3 we can consider

that are not really relevant in the Portuguese

culture (soda maker; booking public laundry

room with key/mechanic; booking public laundry

room with electronic system device).

But now we want to follow similar procedures

with similar samples as the authors, to be sure

that the ETUQ maintains the same psychometric

properties with the Portuguese population,

before starting to use it in clinical practice.


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18th enothe meeting, vilnius · (eg.: rosenberg, kottorp, et al., 2009; nygård, pantzar, uppgard...

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