Design e tecnologia assistiva: avaliação da mobilidade, satisfação e semântica de andador para idosos
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Data
2018-02-20
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Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Resumo
O aumento da população idosa é fenômeno observado mundialmente, decorrente, de maneira geral, do aumento da expectativa de vida e menores índices de natalidade. O processo de envelhecimento provoca alterações que podem prejudicar o idoso em sua mobilidade e independência nas atividades diárias e, desta forma, a promoção de condições para a vida independente torna-se um desafio a ser buscado para as diversas áreas do conhecimento. Um dos dispositivos mais utilizados para auxiliar a mobilidade de idosos é o andador, cujo modelo padrão – quatro apoios (Standard) – amplamente utilizado no Brasil, apresenta limitações em seu design que podem comprometer o desempenho, segurança e satisfação do usuário com o dispositivo. Este trabalho investigou a mobilidade de idosos usuários e não usuários de andador, a partir da avaliação do desempenho e percepção de esforço na mobilidade, preocupação com relação a quedas e satisfação dos usuários com o seu andador. Ainda, foi avaliada a percepção de não usuários de andador com relação aos aspectos práticos, estéticos e simbólicos do design deste dispositivo. Dois estudos foram realizados, o primeiro com a participação de 26 idosos (sendo 13 usuários e 13 não usuários de andador), que realizaram o Teste do Sentar e Levantar cronometrado (TUG) com avaliação posterior da percepção de esforço com a Escala de Borg, e ainda responderam a Escala de Eficácia de Quedas (FES-I) e um questionário de avaliação da satisfação com a tecnologia assistiva (QUEST 2.0). No segundo estudo, participaram 40 pessoas sem deficiência, as quais apontaram em uma escala de Diferencial Semântico suas percepções com relação ao design de dois modelos de andador: quatro apoios (Standard), modelo padrão e amplamente utilizado no Brasil; e modelo Rollator, muito utilizado na Noruega. Os resultados do primeiro estudo demonstram que idosos que fazem uso de andador Standard apresentam pior desempenho na mobilidade, maior esforço na marcha e maior preocupação com o risco de quedas. Estes achados sugerem que o andador, ainda que destinado a promover e melhorar a mobilidade de idosos, não devolve a estes um desempenho e estabilidade na mobilidade similar ao de idosos sem deficiência ou dificuldade locomotora. O QUEST mostra que os idosos usuários de andador estão, de modo geral, satisfeitos com seu dispositivo de TA, mas não souberam avaliar os serviços oferecidos. O Diferencial Semântico constatou que o andador Rollator (Noruega) é visto como melhor comparado ao modelo com quatro apoios, tradicionalmente utilizado no Brasil. Concluiu-se, portanto, que o andador Standard auxilia na mobilidade do idoso, mas não devolve sua locomoção como um idoso não usuário do dispositivo.
The increase in the elderly population is a worldwide phenomenon, generally due to an increase in life expectancy and lower birth rates. The aging process causes changes that may impair the elderly in their mobility and independence in daily activities and, thus, promoting conditions for independent living becomes a challenge to be sought for the various areas of knowledge. One of the devices most used to assist the mobility of the elderly is the walker, whose standard model - four supports (Standard) - widely used in Brazil, presents limitations in its design that can compromise the performance, safety and user satisfaction with the device. This work investigated the mobility of elderly users and non-users of walkers, based on the evaluation of performance and perceived effort in mobility, concern about falls and users' satisfaction with their walker. Also, the perception of non-users of walker with regard to the practical, aesthetic and symbolic aspects of the design of this device was evaluated. Two studies were carried out, the first with the participation of 26 elderly (13 users and 13 non-walker users), who performed the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) with a posterior evaluation of the perception of effort with the Borg Scale, and also answered the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES-I) and a questionnaire assessing satisfaction with assistive technology (QUEST 2.0). In the second study, 40 non-disabled people participated, which showed their perceptions regarding the design of two walker models in a Semantic Differential scale: four supports, standard model and widely used in Brazil; and Rollator model, widely used in Norway. The results of the first study demonstrate that elderly patients who use Standard walkers have worse performance in mobility, greater gait effort and greater concern about the risk of falls. These findings suggest that the walker, although destined to promote and improve the mobility of the elderly, does not return to them a mobility performance and stability similar to that of the elderly without disability or locomotor difficulty. QUEST shows that elderly walker users are generally satisfied with their AT device but have not been able to evaluate the services offered. The Semantic Differential found that the Rollator walker (Norway) is seen as better compared to the model with four supports, traditionally used in Brazil. It was concluded, therefore, that the Standard walker assists in the mobility of the elderly, but does not return his locomotion as an elderly non-user of the device.
The increase in the elderly population is a worldwide phenomenon, generally due to an increase in life expectancy and lower birth rates. The aging process causes changes that may impair the elderly in their mobility and independence in daily activities and, thus, promoting conditions for independent living becomes a challenge to be sought for the various areas of knowledge. One of the devices most used to assist the mobility of the elderly is the walker, whose standard model - four supports (Standard) - widely used in Brazil, presents limitations in its design that can compromise the performance, safety and user satisfaction with the device. This work investigated the mobility of elderly users and non-users of walkers, based on the evaluation of performance and perceived effort in mobility, concern about falls and users' satisfaction with their walker. Also, the perception of non-users of walker with regard to the practical, aesthetic and symbolic aspects of the design of this device was evaluated. Two studies were carried out, the first with the participation of 26 elderly (13 users and 13 non-walker users), who performed the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) with a posterior evaluation of the perception of effort with the Borg Scale, and also answered the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES-I) and a questionnaire assessing satisfaction with assistive technology (QUEST 2.0). In the second study, 40 non-disabled people participated, which showed their perceptions regarding the design of two walker models in a Semantic Differential scale: four supports, standard model and widely used in Brazil; and Rollator model, widely used in Norway. The results of the first study demonstrate that elderly patients who use Standard walkers have worse performance in mobility, greater gait effort and greater concern about the risk of falls. These findings suggest that the walker, although destined to promote and improve the mobility of the elderly, does not return to them a mobility performance and stability similar to that of the elderly without disability or locomotor difficulty. QUEST shows that elderly walker users are generally satisfied with their AT device but have not been able to evaluate the services offered. The Semantic Differential found that the Rollator walker (Norway) is seen as better compared to the model with four supports, traditionally used in Brazil. It was concluded, therefore, that the Standard walker assists in the mobility of the elderly, but does not return his locomotion as an elderly non-user of the device.
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Palavras-chave
Andador, Idoso, Tecnologia assistiva, Mobilidade, Design, Walker, Elderly, Assistive, Assistive technology, Mobility