| 471. |
- Malmgren Fänge, Agneta, et al.
(author)
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Accessibility and usability in housing: construct validity and implications for research and practice
- 2003
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In: Disability and Rehabilitation. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0963-8288 .- 1464-5165. ; 25:23, s. 1316-1325
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: The aim of this study was to validate the conceptual definitions of accessibility and usability, and to explore differences between objective accessibility assessments and subjective ratings of usability in different client groups. Method: The Housing Enabler and the Usability in My Home instruments were used for 131 persons above 18 years of age, living in ordinary housing and receiving a housing adaptation grant. Covariation between accessibility in four different housing sections and three different usability aspects were explored, for the total sample and for six sub-samples reflecting person-environment-activity transactions or demographic factors. Results: Significant correlations were found in the total sample, among clients aged 75-84, women, clients living alone, as well as among clients with high dependence in personal and instrumental ADL and in outdoor activities. Subjective usability evaluations of activity aspects and physical environmental aspects were correlated to accessibility indoors and outdoors, while personal and social aspects of usability were correlated to outdoor accessibility. Conclusions: Accessibility and usability are concluded to be different but related concepts. The results indicate that e. g. age, civil status and ADL dependence affect how clients assess aspects of their housing situation. For efficient planning and evaluation of housing adaptations, assessment of housing accessibility, usability, and dependence in ADL is recommended.
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| 472. |
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| 473. |
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| 474. |
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| 475. |
- Malmgren Fänge, Agneta, et al.
(author)
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Accessibility to the public environment as perceived by teenagers with functional limitations in a south Swedish town centre.
- 2002
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In: Disability and Rehabilitation. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0963-8288 .- 1464-5165. ; 24:6, s. 318-326
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE: Owing to physical inaccessibility persons with mobility restrictions and other functional limitations often face problems in public environments, leading to restrictions in activity and participation. To investigate general accessibility and perceived problems of accessibility to the public environment in a town centre, as well as visiting preferences to public facilities, among teenagers with functional limitations. METHODS: An interview questionnaire specific to a south Swedish town was constructed and used with 33 Swedish teenagers with functional limitations. RESULTS: To a varying degree, all 33 teenagers commented on accessibility problems, e.g. concerning uneven surface material outdoors, steps at entrances, heavy doors and restricted space indoors. The results also indicated that teenagers with functional limitations to a high extent want to visit the same environments as other teenagers, but that it is often impossible owing to accessibility problems. Furthermore, because of accessibility problems, many of the teenagers were dependent on personal assistance. CONCLUSION: Inaccessibility results in dependence, which might affect personal development negatively, and much effort are required in order to ensure activity and societal participation. Efficient priorities in public environment accessibility matters and discussions with the actors involved require valid and reliable data on local accessibility problems.
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| 476. |
- Malmgren Fänge, Agneta, et al.
(author)
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Challenges in implementation of research methodology in community-based occupational therapy: The Housing Enabler Example.
- 2007
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1651-2014 .- 1103-8128. ; 14:1, s. 54-62
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper focuses on challenges in implementation of research in community-based occupational therapy practice. Based on a two-year project in a south Swedish municipality aiming at studying implementation of structured assessment procedures in the housing adaptation process, the first purpose is to provide a detailed project description, and the second is to report on first results identifying challenges in implementation of research in practice. The project was managed following a non-profit marketing model involving activities based on user needs, e.g. assessment training, support visits, and seminars with the users, i.e. occupational therapists. In order to collect data on implementation challenges, a multidimensional approach was utilized. Involving all occupational therapists in the municipality under study, 422 housing adaptation cases were assessed by means of the Housing Enabler. Good inter-rater reliability was demonstrated (/k¯0:62); but large differences between districts in the municipality were seen. Qualitative analyses of diaries, e-mail correspondence and minutes from workshops and seminars elucidated three categories reflecting research implementation challenges: Utilizing research in practice is not straightforward ; Utilizing information technology is demanding; and Establishing cooperation and communication is challenging . The results can be utilized for planning of research implementation projects in practice not used to scientific work.
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| 477. |
- Malmgren Fänge, Agneta, et al.
(author)
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Challenges in the development of strategies for housing adaptation evaluations
- 2007
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1651-2014 .- 1103-8128. ; 14:3, s. 140-149
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Founded on recent empirical experiences and results from a Housing Adaptation Project accomplished in a Swedish municipality, this paper aims to elucidate and problematize challenges inherent in the process of developing research-based strategies for housing adaptation (HA) evaluations feasible for municipality contexts. In this paper, theory and conceptual definitions of client-level outcomes related to Swedish HA legislation - i.e. accessibility, usability, and activity - are presented. In order to lay the ground for the presentation and discussion on challenges, the Housing Adaptation Project is described with regard to design sampling and data collection, client-level outcomes and assessment instruments used, as well as longitudinal results. The challenges faced during the project were related to the assessment of outcomes, the logistic flow of the data-collection process, client availability for follow-up assessments as well as interpretation of changes in accessibility. Some challenges were due to the organizational HA framework in the municipalities, while others were related to the methodology used for outcomes assessment. Based on our experiences with this project, a set of evaluation recommendations for practice and research is provided.
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| 478. |
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| 479. |
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| 480. |
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