Electronic Aids to Daily Living and Quality of Life for Persons With Tetraplegia
By Rigby, Patricia; Ryan, Stephen E.; Campbell, Kent A.; Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 260-267Publication Date: May 2011
Study compared the satisfaction with quality of life (QOL) of adults with tetraplegia from spinal cord injury (SCI) who use and do not use electronic aids for daily living (EADLs). EADL users were defined as those who were able to activate more than two appliances in their home, such as a home entertainment system, door opener, computer, and security system by means of special electronic access devices. The study used a cross sectional design. Participants were 36 community dwellers, 10 female, with a mean age of 42 years and with SCI at or above C5 and C6 level. Fifteen participants used EADLs at home, and the remaining 21 formed the comparison group of nonusers of EADLs. The Quality of Life Profile-Physical Disabilities (QOLP-PD) was used to examine participants’ QOL. The QOLP-PD consists of 3 domains, Being, Belonging, and Becoming, each with 3 subdomains and used to describe bodily health, feelings, and beliefs; dwelling and community; and activities. Both groups rated the levels of importance of all aspects of QOL equally. The EADL users rated their satisfaction with QOL significantly higher for total QOLP-PD scores and for 4 of the 9 domains, including all 3 domains of Belonging. The groups did not differ in age, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores, level of education, and hours of paid attendant care. The EADL user group had significantly more males than females, and had higher levels of SCI. Study limitations and implications for future research are discussed.
Published by: Taylor & Francis, Limited (Website:http://taylorandfrancis.org)
International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (Web Site: http://www.isprm.org )
