Each month at Ability Partners, our hard-working Occupational Therapists gather to present, analyse and discuss different journal articles. This month, the group discussed how interest in everyday technology could contribute to modern occupational therapy.
They recently covered the following journal:
Nygård, L., & Rosenberg, L. (2016). How attention to everyday technology could contribute to modern occupational therapy: A focus group study. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79(8), 467–474. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022615613354
In summary, from their discussion on technology and modern occupational therapy, our OTs found that this article:
- Acknowledges the increase in technology in today’s society and the impact it has on our client’s ability to access services, gain independence with tasks and provides a cost-effective approach to intervention.
- Adds insight into how increased attention to clients as everyday technology users could contribute to critical reflections and the development of the occupational therapists’ role.
Introduction & Objectives of Journal Article
What is this journal article’s relevance to occupational therapy?
This article encourages occupational therapists to apply modern everyday technology (ET) and resources clients are already using. It suggests that occupational therapists don’t necessarily utilise assistive technology (AT) and facilitates outside of the box thinking when it comes to intervention types. It utilises a group setting as a tool for reflection to determine clinical occupational therapy to gauge an understanding of how therapists think about their practice.
Objective of this presentation and discussion
To explore occupational therapists’ views on the relevance of technology and modern occupational therapy, meaning and potential applicability in practice.
Key Terms To Consider:
Assistive technology: Any device, software that is used to increase or maintain functional capacity of an individual. The purpose is to assist with independence and ease of completion of the task.
Everyday technology: Tools and devices that are commonly used in daily life to perform tasks such as communication, information accessing or routine management.
Why is this topic important for Occupational Therapists?
- Promotes independence and participation
- Everyday technologies like smartphones, GPS, or smart home devices help clients manage tasks such as scheduling, mobility, and communication.
- For people with physical, cognitive, or sensory impairments, using technology can mean the difference between dependence and autonomy.
- Reflects ‘real life’ functioning
- Occupational therapy is rooted in helping clients function in real-life environments. Mastering everyday technology is essential to functioning in today’s world.
- Examples: Using online banking, accessing public transportation apps, or participating in virtual meetings.
- Enhances rehab and skill development
- Everyday technologies can be used as tools in therapy to practice memory, motor skills, or problem-solving.
- Example: A tablet app can support cognitive rehab, or a smartwatch can track physical activity goals.
- Keeps practice relevant and client-centred
- Technology is deeply integrated into clients’ occupational routines (work, leisure, self-care).
- Addressing it shows that therapy is aligned with the client’s goals, context, and real-world needs.
Literature Review
Key Points based on the previous literature
- The role of everyday technology (ET) in people’s lives is gaining attention in both social and health care fields and is agreeable amongst most literature being reviewed.
- Double-Edged Nature of Technology: ET can simplify life and support independence but may also exclude individuals who cannot keep up with rapid technological changes. This is particularly relevant for older adults and people with cognitive impairments.
- Access vs. Competence: Access to technology (e.g., internet or mobile phones) does not equate to competent or meaningful use, a common oversight in both policy and practice.
- Customization and Collaboration: Effective technological support often arises from flexible, person-centred combinations of existing and new technologies, tailored through collaborative processes between users and caregivers.
- Challenges for Practice: Despite occupational therapists’ (OTs) positive attitudes toward innovation, there is limited translation into practice. The profession tends to focus on traditional AT, often overlooking ET’s role in everyday function.
- ET supports independence and improves access to services, however, it poses risks of exclusion for those who struggle to use or adapt to it, such as older adults or individuals with cognitive impairments. Access alone does not guarantee competent or meaningful use.
Context of the study
There is a lack of focus on ET, assessment tools do not adequately address individuals’ ability to use ET. Researchers have developed the Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire (ETUQ), a self-report interview tool designed to assess perceived difficulty in using ET. The ETUQ has demonstrated strong psychometric properties across various populations, including those with cognitive impairments. This study aims to explore how occupational therapists perceive ET and the ETUQ’s relevance, meaning, and potential integration into clinical work.
Methodology Review
Study Design
- A focus group for those who had taken part in a one-day training course comprising the theory of practice of the Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire (ETUQ) (Rosenberg et al., 2009).
- ETUQ; evaluates perceived difficulty in ET use by self-report in a face-to-face interview.
- Data collection and preliminary analyses took place in parallel with a constant comparative approach was used in the analyses
Participants
42 occupational therapists who have been introduced to an assessment of an individual’s ability to use everyday technology use.
Data Collection
1 day to 8 weeks post training session, allowing for immediate and developed reflection. Its purpose was to engage OTs in reflection about views on ET and its relevance in practice. This:
- Explored OT’s perception of clients as users of technology and discuss the current and future role of technology in practice.
- Examine the demands and limitations that OT’s face regarding technology.
- 20 hours of data was collected (qualitative material for analysis).
- Each session was conducted by a moderator, supported by an assistant and the audio of the discussions were recorded.
Ethical considerations
Participants provided informed consent and confidentiality was maintained.
Analysis
This occurred immediately after each focus group. Audio recordings from each session were transcribed verbatim and 8 focus groups occurred with consistent themes emerging. A key comparative step involved analysing short-term (1-day post-training) versus longer-term (8-weeks post-training) reflections to capture deeper insights from participants with more experience. Two follow-up focus groups were later analysed using focused coding based on existing categories. No new categories emerged, confirming the robustness of the initial categorisation.
Findings – Field of vision begins to expand
Expansion of the view on ET
It acknowledged the general importance of ET, as little attention is being paid towards clients as ET users. When it was being used, it was a small number of devices relating to safety of communication type devices (e.g alarms, telephones). It reflected on having discovered that having an investigation of ability to use ET could in addition have value in itself, this prompted greater reflection and asked greater questions relating to ET.
Expansion of the professional role in view
OT’s have identified possible new roles they could take on by utilizing the field of ET; provide advice to clients regarding ET products and suitable designs. There is an increased awareness and importance of the design. Also, recognising how ET and AT can be combined e.g., a hearing aid could be combined with the television set and telephone, OT’s can work more preventatively, focusing on health at a societal level.
Modern OT therapy attends to ET
A subtle dimension of everyday life where occupational therapists are the experts
ET is moving towards the direction of OT for the future. We should recommend tools that go beyond traditional recommendations to reflect the complexity of the real world. OT’s increasingly becoming aware of the growing societal role and how it impacts clients’ daily lives. ET modernizes outpatient care by creating timely and relevant services (resources that are readily available, or devices clients already have). It facilitates changes in family and caregiver roles by creating less dependency and supportive needs required, which therefore reduces carer stress/burden.
A new access point that allows the client to be seen as a more complete person
OTs believe it would encourage a natural conversation ‘being neutral, non-threatening and non-violating’. The reasoning for this is that questions were being focused on ‘what do you use?’ rather than ‘are you able?’ Asking questions about ET use was perceived as being more gender-neutral and less intrusive on the clients self and his/her own body in comparison to other approaches used. ET allows clients to be treated as an older adult in society rather than a person with a diagnosis, this invited clients to discuss other parts of life rather than the usual ailments. It has provided participants with a new access point that allowed the person to present themselves beyond the limited ‘client’ role.
The risk of receiving too much information
The risk of information overload has the potential to generate too much information that they can’t act on. The informal guiding rule is do not ask questions you can’t solve. ETUQ can be used as a communication tool, which is a greater way to understand the client, view them as whole individuals and initiate meaningful conversations. May be conflicting in professional roles, a dilemma where less optimal AT (because its free/what funding bodies will approve) whilst knowing better commercial options exists.
Limitations of the study
It is an opinion/focus group-based journal article, therefore, drawing on existing research to support the discussion. All participants had an interest in ET as they had chosen to participate in the ETUQ training date, this is not representative of the broad scope of OTs in general. There was uncertainty regarding the extent to which the participants reflections carried over to adaptations in their practice as this was not captured by the data.
Take Home Messages / Application of Evidence / Discussion
Overall, increased attention to client’s everyday technology use was considered to make OT more relevant in practice. Highlighting the importance of consistently completing reflection in practice to ensure continual professional development to assuring you are maintaining client-centred practice. Further reflection/understanding can focus on how OTs can use everyday items/tools (thinking more broadly beyond technology).
Some Questions to Consider – Reflection
- In your practice, have you explored ET as a form of intervention for a client? Please provide an example. Can expand beyond ‘technology’.
- Do you believe there is a place in OT practice for ET application? Do you think it is appropriate given the AT available for OT intervention?
- Discuss positive + negatives to ET application.
At Ability Partners, we work in partnership with you to achieve goals that really matter. We deliver evidence-based practice and work with you as a team. We have an incredible team of experienced Occupational Therapists who are ready to work with you, from detailed assessments of your needs to ongoing therapy.
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