Case Study on the Experience and Perception of Rehabilitators and Caregivers of People with Parkinson's Disease in the Interaction with Clothing Assistive Devices: Narratives About Everyday Problems, in Portugal

Abstract

Neurological diseases, such as Parkinson, may hinder the activity of dressing/undressing independently. Assistive Devices (ADs) are products that can improve handling performance, promoting user experience during dressing/undressing. In seeking to understand the relationship of these products, their way of use and the possible difficulties that prevent or hinder this activity, the study investigates their use and consequences for the possible independence promotion. This article presents a specific research which aims to understand In seeking to understand the aspects that make feasible, or not, the use of ADs to help dress/undress people with Parkinson's disease, through surveys and interviews with caregivers and rehabilitators in Portugal. We have discussed the typology, usability and interaction of these products, within the professionals’ perception. The results of this empirical research were processed and encoded using the Atlas.ti software. The findings revealed that the non-use of the Assistive Devices is linked to: the difficulty of recovering the movement; environmental care structure, where there is a lack of support for stimulation and training; means for acquiring when the products are presented; and the possible social stigma caused by the unfamiliarity and interface design. The interviews also related the ADs’ non-use to their design characteristics; and underlined the need to study new options for the effective promotion of independence. Despite a still limited sample, the conclusions already point out to the existence of a very expressive problem in the field of clothing design for people with Parkinson's disease, especially in the research and development of the fashion area.