Research Project in Health and Social Care September-2012

St. Patricks College London

Research Title:

Mobility Assistive Technological Devices (ATDs)

and their Impact on the Social Interaction of
Elderly Users

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
-Rationale.p. 3

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Research Project in Health and Social Care September-2012

-Aim.p. 3
-Objectives...p. 3
-Specifications..p. 4
-Research Plan..p. 4

BACKGROUND
-Mobility ATDsp. 5
-Social Interaction of Elderly People....p. 5
-Literature Reviewp. 6

ETHICAL ISSUES
-Role of Ethical Codes and Ethics Committeesp. 7
-Strategies to Deal with Potential Ethical Issues..p. 7

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
-Methodology...p. 8
-Limitations......pp. 8-9
-De-limitations..p. 9

REFERENCE LIST.pp. 19-20

APPENDIX 1: Participants Informed Consent...p. 21
APPENDIX 2: Research Questionnaires..pp. 22-25

Mobility Assistive Technological Devices (ATDs) and their Impact on the

Social Interaction of Elderly Users

INTRODUCTION

-Rationale

As the UKs society is rapidly aging with fast growing number of elderly demographic, it is
recognised that existing health and social care facilities, capacity and governmental health
care schemes are no longer able to afford specific health and social care needs of all the
elderly population. As compared to the past, most elderly service users at present wish to

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maintain their previous life-style by remaining in their own homes within their community if
they are able to do so.

Therefore, the fast developing technological advancement has been adopted to support the
specific needs and wishes of the elderly service users in the day-to-day lives (Department of
Health (DH), 2012) As a result of this, many of elderly population who have mobility
difficulties are now supplemented with Mobility Assistive Technological Devices (ATDs) and
it is observed that elderly users participating in various social activities.

The result of this research may benefit the existing service users and general public with
raised awareness of mobility ATDs and its impact on social interaction. The service providers
will also gain the knowledge of challenging factors encountered by the elderly users in order
to achieve better delivery of health and social care service.

-Aim

To investigate whether mobility ATDs actually improve social interaction of elderly users,
and improve mobility AT services.

-Objectives

1) Gather and present relevant secondary data on the main types of mobility ATDs and how
they impact on social interaction of elderly users.
2) Gather and present relevant primary data from research participants using questionnaires.

-Specifications

1) Collect and analyse relevant secondary data in order to produce background information
and literature review.
2) Decide the number of research participant to 7 numbers of elderly using mobility ATDs,
and colleague home carers who will ask questions.
3) Design participant consent form for both colleagues and elderly users, and research
questionnaires.
4) Conduct a preliminary test of questionnaires by sampling to 5 classmates to review and
validate questions.
5) Record and collage the responses on spreadsheet.
6) Analyse the data collected through the questionnaire with the presentation of statistics and
descriptions: Identify the relation between using mobility ATDs and its impact on social

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interaction of elderly users, and what further improvements on the use of mobility ATDs
are required.
7) Draw conclusion about research findings, and make recommendation.
8) Evaluate research design and methodology for revising their influence on the research
outcomes.

-Research Plan

Prepare research proposal by 5th November

Complete literature review by 10th November
Prepare and distribute participant consent letter and questionnaires by 30th November
Collect the responses of the questionnaires by 10th December
Record and collate the responses on spreadsheet by 20th December
Complete analysis by 3rd January
Produce conclusion of the result by 4th January
Complete final report by 5th January

BACKGROUND

-Mobility ATDs

The concept of Assistive Technology (AT) was introduced in the UK at a Kings Fund
consultation meeting in 2001 in order to replace the previous term of AT, disability
equipment. The widely used AT definitions are any product or service designed to enable
independence for disabled and older people (Kings Fund, 2001).

Certain ATDs are designed and available for elderly service users who suffer from long-term
health conditions. Burton (2008) and Flanagan et al. (2010) provides main classes of mobility
aids which facilitate elderly or people with mobility difficulties to move about freely and they
are:

1) Crutches
2) Canes or Walking Sticks

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Research Project in Health and Social Care September-2012

3) Zimmer Frame or Waling Frame

4) Wheelchairs
5) Scooters

-Social Interaction of Elderly People

As going through the aging process in life-time, people at their late age could experience
certain health conditions such as physical or cognitive impairment, death of family or friends,
changed social roles and admission to care residential organisations, and these changes often
limit elder peoples ability to participate in social network and to maintain their social
interaction and social relationship (John and Troll, 1994).

ETHICAL ISSUES

-Role of Ethical Codes and Ethics Committees

When researchers conduct any sort of research involving human responses it is crucial to
consider ethical issues which could be raised during the research.

According to Green, in research settings, ethics place a responsibility to a researcher as rules

to reflect during the research process. In other words, ethical codes guide individuals to make
decisions that reflect values and morals of the person and society, and work as moral
judgement to do right things in respect of standards and generally accepted behaviours
(2000).

An example of ethical codes is that researchers must preserve the rights of participants in
terms of privacy, confidentiality, anonymity, and ensure these rights are upheld in a fair
manner.

The role of Research Ethics Committee (REC) is therefore to supervise and scrutinise
whether researchers properly observe ethical principles and considerations while conducting
investigations. Moreover, REC monitors studies that include human participants, revises
potential risks as well as benefits of studies, and examines ethical acceptability of the
research in order to promote high ethical standards of research in health setting (WHO,
2009).

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THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

-Methodology

In order to investigate the correlation between the use of mobility ATDs and its impact on
social interaction for the elderly users, this research have chosen positivism approach. As a
philosophy, positivism views that all phenomena are experienced through hypothesises and
subject to general laws, placing its focuses on pure facts, truth and validity of knowledge
gathered through observation and experience, measured empirically by using quantitative
methods (Collins, 2010, p. 38; Henning et al., 2004).

A questionnaires of 10 questions will be used to collect primary data. The questionnaires will
be given to my work colleagues currently working as home carers to assist participants to
answer the questions. A pilot study will be conducted on 5 college students in order to test the
accuracy and validity of the questions.

Later, the responses collected from the questionnaires will be critically analysed statistically.
Conclusions will be made on whether mobility assistive technological devices actually assist
elderly users to conduct socialising activities, their overall feelings about using the mobility
aids, and what challenges they encounter.

-Limitations

The main limitation while carrying out this research project would be limited time, the
number of research participants, and the use of proxy in conducting questionnaires.

Firstly, due to the time limit, which is about 3 month period, the volume of research project
has to be restricted in terms of using resources. For instance, the number of research
participant is confined to only 7 people, which may raise the concern of representativeness of
the research findings.

Secondly, due to the research ethics, it was inhibited for me to directly participate in
conducting questionnaires, and I had to use proxies who are colleague home carers.
Therefore, it may be hard to know who answers the questions and whether the participants
properly understand the question or not.

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Research Project in Health and Social Care September-2012

-De-limitations

In order to produce best outcomes within the limited time, I produced a time plan to organise
the research process according to the specific time limit. It will help me to envision all
necessary processes to be followed and importantly, meet the deadline.

In addition, I will run a preliminary test of questionnaires to college students by giving them
the questionnaires to answer and give me feedbacks for further revision and reflection of
validity. The design of questionnaires will be divided into 3 sections with a brief description
and instruction on what each section is about and how to provide response in order to
increase understanding of participants.

Importantly, I will carefully select work colleagues who are experienced in care setting and
explain about my research and how they can assist me in conducting questionnaires. It will
increase their understanding of what this research is about and which client to choose to ask
questions.

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REFERENCE LIST

-Burton, G. (2008) Read about the 4 main types of mobility aids. [online] s.l.: Ezine Articles.
Available from:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Read-About-The-4-Main-Types-Of-Mobility-Aids&id=5017360
[Accessed 20 October 2012].

-Collins, H. (2010) Creative research: The theory and practice of research for the creative industries.
London: Thames & Hudson, p. 38.

Department of Health (DH). (2012) Research and development work relating to assistive technology
2011-2012. [pdf] Available from:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/files/2012/07/Research-and-development-work-relating-to-Assistive-
Technology-2011-12.pdf
[Accessed 25 October 2012]

-Flanagan, S. R., Zaretsky, H. and Moroz, A. (2010) Medical aspects of disability: A handbook for the
rehabilitation professional. 4th ed. [e-book] New York: Springer. Available from:
http://books.google.co.uk/books?
id=azCbzY2q0_kC&pg=PA358&dq=main+types+of+mobility+devices&hl=ko&sa=X&ei=Gg6lUJPF
HoiJ0AXah4GQAg&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=main%20types%20of%20mobility
%20devices&f=false
[Accessed 20 October 2012].

-Green, S. (2000) Research methods in health, social and early years care. Cheltenham: Stanley
Thornes.

-Henning, E., Van Rensburg, W. and Smith, B. (2004) Finding your way in qualitative research.
Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers.

-John, C. L. and Troll, L. E. (1994) Constraints and facilitators to friendships in late life. The
Gerontologist. 34(1), pp-79-87. Cited in: Estelle, J. J., Kirsch, N. L. and Pollack, M. E. (2006)
Enhancing social interaction in elderly communities. [pdf] Montreal: University of Michigan.
Available from: http://web.eecs.umich.edu/~pollackm/distrib/chi-workshop06.pdf
[Accessed 1 November 2012].

APPENDIX 1:

Participants Informed Consent

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Research Project in Health and Social Care September-2012

Name of Researcher: Narae Seo

My name is XXXXXXX, a student of Health and Social Care Management in St. Patricks
College, London.

I am doing a research into mobility aids for people with mobility problems. This research will
help to understand the impact of such mobility aids into social interaction for elderly users.

I will be asking you some questions about your experience of using mobility aids and it
should only take about 10-15 minutes. Your written responses given from the questions will
be used as part of my academic Research Project.

All your information will be treated as confidential and your identity will be anonymous.
Your name will not appear on your questionnaires and your responses will not be linked to
your name as you would only be given unique ID code.

Participating in this research will not harm you in any way. Your participation is voluntary,
no by force. Therefore, if at any time you do not want to continue in this research, you have
the right to withdraw your participation.

If you have read and agreed with the statement above, please write your initials below and go
through the questionnaire attached.

I agree to take part in the research described above.

Initials: Date: / / 2012

APPENDIX 2:

Questionnaires

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Research Project in Health and Social Care September-2012

Section 1
In this section, I would like to know basic information about the mobility
aids that you use, how long you have used, and the purpose of using them. If any of
the option applies to you, please tick the box next to the option.

Q1. What type of mobility aids do you use now?

Please select all devices that you use by ticking the appropriate box.

1) Crutches [ ]

2) Cane or Walking sticks [ ]

3) Zimmer frame/ Walking frame [ ]
4) Wheelchair [ ]
5) Scooter [ ]
6) Other Please explain further:

Q2. How long have you been using the mobility aids?

1) Less than 1 year [ ]

2) 1 2 years [ ]
3) 3 5 years [ ]
4) 5 10 years [ ]
5) More than 10 years [ ]

Q3. What is the reason to start using the mobility aids?

1) Rehabilitation purpose from injury or operation [ ]

2) Long-term mobility assistance purpose [ ]
3) Other Please explain further:

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Research Project in Health and Social Care September-2012

Section 2
This section is about how you use the mobility aids when you carry out
different social activities in your daily life, and how helpful you find them. If any of
the option applies to you, please tick the box next to the option.

Q4. What sorts of activities do you carry out by using the mobility aids?
Please select all activities that apply to you by ticking the appropriate box.

1) Moving around inside the house daily [ ]

2) Shopping [ ]
3) Social activity [ ]
4) Hobbies/ Leisure activity [ ]
5) Religious Activity [ ]
6) Employment [ ]
7) Attending at medical appointments [ ]
8) Other Please explain further:

Q5. How frequently do you go out with family or friends by using mobility aids?

1) Daily [ ]
2) Weekly [ ]
3) Occasionally [ ]
4) Never [ ]
5) Other Please explain further:

Q6. How frequently do you go out with friends or family without mobility aids?

1) Daily [ ]
2) Weekly [ ]
3) Occasionally [ ]
4) Never [ ]
5) Other Please explain further:

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Research Project in Health and Social Care September-2012

Q7. To what extent do you agree with the statement below?

Mobility aids assist elderly people to carry out their socialising activities

1) Absolutely agree [ ]
2) Agree to some extent [ ]
3) Disagree [ ]
4) Strongly disagree [ ]
5) I dont know [ ]

Section 3
In this section, I would like to know what overall experience of using the
mobility aids you have, challenges encountered, and how these affect your view about
recommending assistive technologies to others. If any of the option applies to you,
please tick the box next to the option.

Q8. What is your overall feeling towards using mobility aids?

1) Positive [ ]
2) Negative [ ]
3) I dont have a specific feeling [ ]

Q9. What challenging experience of using mobility aids can you think of?
Please select all challenges that apply to you by ticking the appropriate box.

1) Device breakdown [ ]
2) Complicated design [ ]
3) Poor After-Service (A/S) [ ]
4) Absence of induction or training before use [ ]
5) Costly maintenance charge [ ]
6) Safety issues of operating devices [ ]
7) Other Please explain further:

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Research Project in Health and Social Care September-2012

Q10. To what extent would you recommend using mobility aids to other elderly
people?

1) Strongly recommend [ ]
2) Recommend to some extent [ ]
3) Never recommend [ ]
4) I dont know [ ]

It is the end of the questionnaires.

Thank you very much for your participation.

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