Accessing public space in the digital society: relationship between the use of everyday technology and places visited outside the home after acquired brain injury

• Purpose: In the digital society, people need to make use of a range of everyday technology (ET) when engaging in activities in various places outside home. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the use of ET and places visited outside the home and, also, to describe the relationship between them in people with different severity of disability after acquired brain injury (ABI).Materials and methods: Instruments addressing ET use, places visited outside the home and severity of disability were used to assess 74 individuals with ABI. Relationships were analyzed statistically.Results: A significantly higher use of personal ET related to public space and public space ET, a higher ability to use ET and more places visited outside the home was found in those with good recovery (GR) compared to those with moderate disability/severe disability (MD/SD). The use of ET was significantly correlated with places visited in the total sample and in those with MD/SD, but for those with GR, no significant correlations were found.Conclusions: To facilitate participation after ABI, the relationship between the use of ET and places visited outside the home needs to be assessed in rehabilitation.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsterapi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Therapy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Accessibility

activities of daily living

participation

public environment

technology

Occupational therapy

Arbetsterapi

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)